Revolutionising Newsrooms: AI Tools That Enhance Accuracy and Speed

In a rapidly evolving media landscape, artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a futuristic concept—it is a present reality, shaping how journalists work, gather information, and tell stories.
At the Google x ARISE Global News Initiative (GNI) AI Workshop, we had the opportunity to explore AI-powered tools designed to enhance reporting, fact-checking, and content creation.
From generative AI like Google Gemini and NotebookLM to investigative tools like Pinpoint and Fact Check Explorer, the workshop provided hands-on experience with the latest AI advancements, showcasing how they can revolutionise journalism. But beyond the technical jargon and futuristic possibilities, the real question was: How can AI make journalism more effective, responsible, and accessible?
Artificial Intelligence is often synonymous with generative AI—think of chatbots that can write articles or AI-generated images. However, AI extends far beyond that. At its core, AI simulates human intelligence to process information, learn from data, and automate complex tasks.
Google’s mission, to organise the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful, aligns with AI’s ability to streamline news production and analysis. With billions of people benefiting from AI-powered features in Gmail (like Smart Compose and the summarisation tool), journalists can leverage similar innovations to improve efficiency.

One of the key takeaways from the workshop was the importance of responsibility in AI-driven journalism. While AI can enhance reporting, it also presents challenges—particularly with misinformation. Google’s AI tools follow three core principles:

Boldly engaging users with new AI experiences.
Giving publishers control over their content.
Fighting misinformation together.

This framework ensures AI remains a tool for good rather than a vehicle for unchecked misinformation.

One of the standout tools introduced at the workshop was Pinpoint, a powerful AI-powered research tool. Designed for investigative journalists, Pinpoint can:
-Transcribe handwritten notes.
-Analyse breaking news content.
-Perform fact-checking.
-Search through vast archives to find relevant information.

I experimented with Pinpoint by uploading multiple documents. Within seconds, it pulled key insights, making it easier to sort through extensive research. The most impressive feature? Pinpoint doesn’t count as part of your Google storage, a game-changer for journalists working with large datasets.

If Pinpoint is a research tool, NotebookLM takes it a step further. This AI-powered assistant analyses uploaded documents, summarizes them, and even generates insights based on the content. Unlike traditional AI chatbots, NotebookLM is “grounded in trusted sources”, ensuring that generated information is reliable.

Here’s how NotebookLM works:

Upload relevant documents, notes, and files.
Review AI-generated insights based on your content.
Collaborate with the AI for deeper research.

As a journalist, this tool is particularly useful for simplifying complex topics. It’s not just about summarising information—it provides structured analysis, making it easier to create compelling stories.

While AI can assist journalists, it cannot replace human editorial judgment. This was evident when we explored Gemini, Google’s AI chatbot. Unlike traditional search engines, Gemini does not simply retrieve information, it generates responses based on data. However, this comes with a caveat:

AI can hallucinate, meaning it might generate incorrect or fabricated information.

Gemini uses a traffic-light system to indicate the reliability of its sources:
– Green: Verified information with credible sources.
– Orange: Some relevant information found, but needs verification.
– Red: No reliable sources—should not be used in journalism.

This color-coded approach ensures journalists are critical of AI-generated content rather than taking it at face value.

Other AI-powered tools we explored included:
Google Lens – allowing journalists to search the web using images.
Fact Check Explorer – verifying whether a claim or image has been fact-checked.
Gemini Flash, Ultra, Nano, and Pro– different AI tools designed for various tasks.

The biggest takeaway from the Google x ARISE GNI AI Workshop was clear: AI is a tool that enhances journalism, but it cannot replace journalistic integrity. While tools like Pinpoint, NotebookLM, and Gemini can streamline research and content creation, they must be used responsibly.

As journalists, our role remains the same, to seek the truth, verify facts, and tell impactful stories. AI simply makes that process more efficient. The challenge lies in ensuring that AI works for us, not the other way around.

The future of AI in journalism is exciting, but as we embrace it, one thing is certain, critical thinking will always be our most valuable tool.