Let’s talk about some use cases.
The New York Times explores how Artificial intelligence is reshaping the journalism landscape, prompting significant reflection within the industry about its role as either a journalist or a tool. Newsrooms are increasingly utilizing AI technologies from companies like OpenAI and Google to enhance efficiency in gathering and disseminating information. For instance, Ryan Sabalow of CalMatters employed an AI tool, Digital Democracy, to uncover legislative voting patterns in California, resulting in impactful reporting that might not have been possible without this technology. However, concerns remain about job security and the potential for AI to replace human journalists, as media organizations navigate the complexities of integrating AI while maintaining journalistic integrity.
Recent reports reveal a growing trend in monitoring students’ interactions with AI chatbots in American schools, raising significant concerns about privacy and mental health. According to a Bloomberg article, schools are employing AI surveillance tools that now monitor the majority of K-12 students, particularly as students are provided laptops for home use. The Electronic Frontier Foundation has criticized these systems, stating they often target normal behaviors among students, particularly in the LGBTQ community, and may do more harm than good. As schools increasingly rely on these tools to identify concerning chat interactions, such as discussions about self-harm, experts warn that such monitoring could inhibit open communication and trust between students and adults.
The New York Times again, highlighting that more lawyers are increasingly using artificial intelligence to draft legal briefs, leading to a rise in errors and fabricated citations in court documents. A notable incident involved a Texas lawyer who cited a nonexistent case, resulting in disciplinary action from a judge. Robert Freund, a Los Angeles lawyer, has joined a network of legal professionals tracking these AI-related errors, contributing to a database that has documented over 500 cases of misuse. Experts, including Stephen Gillers from New York University, warn that such inaccuracies damage the reputation of the legal profession. The American Bar Association emphasizes that while using AI is permissible, lawyers must ensure the accuracy of their filings.
Why do we care?
Let’s talk about how AI’s actually showing up in the real world.
Reporters are using tools like Digital Democracy to uncover voting patterns — great example of AI helping humans find the story. But at the same time, some outlets are cutting staff and letting automation write the copy. That’s not journalism, that’s content farming.
Then in schools — there’s a whole new industry built on watching students. These “AI safety” tools monitor kids’ chats, even flagging normal conversations. It’s being sold as protection, but it’s also surveillance for profit.
And in the legal world, lawyers using AI to draft briefs are getting burned — hundreds of fake citations showing up in court.
Here’s the common thread: everyone’s racing to use AI without enough oversight. That’s where IT providers come in.
We can help clients deploy AI the right way — verify results, respect privacy, and keep humans in the loop. Because as AI becomes cheap and everywhere, trust is what people will pay for.