AI vs Human: The Future of Sports Journalism

Humans fear what they do not understand. This is a common phenomenon that can be observed in many situations. One of the most recent examples is the reaction of some people to the introduction of AI Sportscasters by GMA News for the NCAA season 99. Maia and Marco, the two AI personalities, have caused a stir among the viewers and the media industry. Some have expressed their concerns that AI is taking over the jobs of human journalists and sportscasters. Others have criticized GMA News for using artificial intelligence instead of real people.

GMA News’ Facebook post introducing their new AI Sportscasters

But are these fears and anxieties justified? We will try to answer this question by looking at the benefits and challenges of using AI in sports journalism. We will also examine some of the ethical and social implications of this innovation.

AI sportscasters: what are they, and how do they work?

AI sportscasters are computer-generated personalities that can deliver sports news and commentary using natural language processing and computer vision. They can analyze data, generate scripts, synthesize speech, and create realistic animations. They can also adapt to different situations, such as changing weather, scores, or audience reactions.

Maia and Marco, the AI sportscasters created by GMA News, are based on the technology developed by ObEN, a US-based company that specializes in creating digital avatars. According to ObEN, their technology can create “personalized and realistic digital voices, faces, and full-body 3D avatars” that can be used for various applications, such as entertainment, education, health care, and social media.

GMA News claims that Maia and Marco are the first AI sportscasters in the world. They debuted on September 23, 2023, during the opening ceremony of the NCAA season 99. They have since been delivering sports updates and highlights on GMA News TV and online platforms.

AI sportscasters: what are the benefits?

Using AI in sports journalism can offer several advantages, such as:

• Enhancing the quality and quantity of sports coverage. AI sportscasters can provide more information, insights, and perspectives on various sports events. They can also cover more games and leagues that may not receive enough attention from human journalists.
• Reducing the cost and workload of sports production. AI sportscasters can work faster, longer, and cheaper than human journalists. They do not need travel expenses, salaries, or benefits. They also do not require editing, supervision, or training.
• Increasing the accessibility and diversity of sports media. AI sportscasters can cater to different audiences by using different languages, accents, or styles. They can also represent different genders, ethnicities, or cultures that may be underrepresented in human media.
• Innovating the way people consume sports content. AI sportscasters can create interactive and immersive experiences for viewers by using augmented reality, virtual reality, or holograms. They can also personalize their content based on the preferences and feedback of the users.

AI sportscasters: what are the challenges?

Using AI in sports journalism also poses some challenges, such as:

• Ensuring the accuracy and reliability of sports information. AI sportscasters may make mistakes or errors in their data analysis, script generation, or speech synthesis. They may also be vulnerable to hacking or manipulation by malicious actors who want to spread false or misleading information.
• Preserving the human element and emotion of sports storytelling. AI sportscasters may lack the personality, creativity, or passion that human journalists bring to their work. They may also fail to capture the nuances, subtleties, or emotions of sports events or athletes.
• Addressing the ethical and social concerns of using AI in media. AI sportscasters may raise questions about the ownership, accountability, or transparency of their content. They may also affect the employment, education, or identity of human journalists who may feel threatened or displaced by their presence.

However, AI is not perfect, nor is it a threat to human existence or dignity. AI is still dependent on human input, guidance, and supervision. AI cannot replace human judgment, intuition, empathy, or ethics. AI cannot understand the context, nuance, or emotion of human communication. AI cannot create original content or generate new knowledge without human inspiration or validation.

Therefore, AI is not a competitor to humans, but a collaborator and a complement. AI can augment human capabilities and enhance human potential. AI can free humans from mundane tasks and allow them to focus on more creative, meaningful, and fulfilling activities. AI can also create new opportunities and challenges for humans to learn, grow, and adapt.

This is especially true for the field of journalism, which is undergoing a digital transformation due to the rise of social media, online platforms, and mobile devices. Journalism is not only about reporting facts and events, but also about providing analysis, interpretation, commentary, and storytelling. Journalism is not only about informing the public, but also about engaging the audience, building trust, and fostering dialogue. Journalism is not only about delivering news, but also about creating value and impact.

AI can help journalists in many aspects of their work, such as finding sources, verifying data, summarizing information, generating headlines, transcribing interviews, translating languages, editing videos, and distributing content. But AI cannot replace journalists in their core functions, such as investigating issues, asking questions, challenging assumptions, exposing injustices, giving voice to the voiceless, and holding power accountable.

AI cannot replace journalists in their essential skills, such as critical thinking, creative writing, ethical reasoning, and emotional intelligence.
AI cannot replace journalists in their unique roles, such as being watchdogs, advocates, educators, and storytellers.

Therefore, journalists should not fear AI on taking away their jobs, but embrace AI as a tool to enhance their work. Journalists should not see AI as a threat, but as an opportunity to learn new skills, explore new formats, and reach new audiences. Journalists should not resist AI as an enemy,
but collaborate with AI as a partner.

And this applies to the mass communications students as well. They should not worry that GMA is doing wrong on introducing Artificial Intelligence.
They should be excited that GMA is doing something innovative and pioneering. Furthermore, they should be curious about how AI works and what it can do. They should be eager to experiment with AI and see how it can improve their craft. They should be confident that they have something valuable to offer that AI cannot replicate.

In conclusion, humans fear what they do not understand. But fear can also be overcome by knowledge, understanding, and experience. AI is not something to be feared, but something to be welcomed. AI is not something to be avoided, but something to be embraced. AI is not something to be rejected, but something to be respected.

AI is here to stay, and so are we.