Can AI match human touch in news? New study shows readers still prefer journalists’ work

According to lead researcher Sina Thäsler-Kordonouri, readers found AI-generated articles 'significantly less comprehensible.'

A recent study from Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich has underscored the challenges that AI-generated content faces in journalism, especially regarding readability. The study, which surveyed over 3,000 online readers in the UK, revealed a strong preference for human-authored news articles, even when automated content was edited by journalists, according to a report in Business Insider India.

The research shed light on the critical role human editors played in making AI content readable, suggesting that human oversight remains invaluable in producing accessible, engaging news.

According to lead researcher Sina Thäsler-Kordonouri, readers found AI-generated articles “significantly less comprehensible,” largely due to complex language choices and confusing data presentation, according to Business Insider India.

One major issue lay in the language itself, as AI-produced articles often employed terminology deemed unusual or overly complicated. Another common complaint concerned AI’s handling of numerical data and statistics, which readers found jarring and disruptive to the article’s narrative. This tendency to present information in a less intuitive way left many readers dissatisfied with automated content.

Project leader Professor Neil Thurman suggested that addressing these readability issues could improve AI’s role in journalism. Strategies under consideration include simplifying the language used in automated content and refining how AI incorporates data-driven information. Thurman noted that such adjustments are essential as newsrooms increasingly integrate AI while striving to keep their content accessible and clear.

The research sheds light on the critical role human editors play in making AI content readable, suggesting that human oversight remains invaluable in producing accessible, engaging news.