News Corp Australia has officially launched NewsGPT, a proprietary generative AI system designed to enhance newsroom productivity without replacing human journalists.
The media giant emphasizes that NewsGPT serves as an AI-powered assistant, integrating advanced large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude to assist with content creation, summarize complex reports, and streamline editorial workflows.
However, News Corp insists that all interactions with NewsGPT remain strictly internal, ensuring compliance with data security policies and maintaining editorial integrity.
“Unlike public AI tools, NewsGPT safeguards News Corp Australia’s data and ensures complete compliance with our privacy standards.” — Julian Delany, Chief Technology Officer, News Corp
AI in Journalism: Innovation or Editorial Risk?
As AI-driven content creation becomes more prevalent, the challenge of balancing efficiency with editorial accuracy and journalistic ethics looms large. While News Corp positions NewsGPT as a tool to support journalists, media analysts warn about potential risks, particularly the reinforcement of editorial bias.
Since NewsGPT is primarily trained on News Corp’s own content, experts caution that it could create a closed information loop, limiting diverse perspectives and reinforcing existing viewpoints.
“You’re creating a closed loop of information, and all media organizations have an editorial bias. If journalists over-rely on this tool, it could narrow the range of perspectives presented in news coverage.” — Monica Attard, Head of Journalism, University of Technology Sydney (UTS)
There is also growing concern that despite policies limiting AI’s role in journalism, newsrooms may become increasingly dependent on AI-generated content.
“Even if explicitly prohibited, the temptation will always be there to lift AI-generated sentences, paragraphs, or even entire articles without thorough human oversight.” — Monica Attard, UTS
News Corp’s AI Strategy: Control or Security?
NewsGPT is part of News Corp’s broader AI strategy, which has seen the company invest heavily in artificial intelligence while restricting access to external AI tools.
In May 2024, News Corp inked a $250 million deal with OpenAI, yet it has since limited employee access to Google’s Gemini and banned the use of Chinese AI application DeepSeek. Additionally, journalists are prohibited from using popular transcription services like Otter.ai, as the company explores alternative AI-powered tools like Trint.
“News Corp has undertaken evaluation work, assessing AI applications and tool deployments across its newsrooms that are not currently approved for use.” — Julian Delany, Chief Technology Officer, News Corp
This move has led to speculation that News Corp’s AI policies may be more about controlling AI adoption rather than just protecting data security.
The Future of AI in Newsrooms: A Double-Edged Sword
As AI technology rapidly reshapes journalism, NewsGPT represents both an opportunity and a challenge. While it promises to boost newsroom efficiency, concerns persist regarding editorial independence, ethical AI usage, and the long-term implications for human journalists.
Media organizations worldwide are facing similar dilemmas—how to integrate AI without compromising journalistic integrity.
With AI-driven tools like NewsGPT becoming more prevalent, the industry must carefully navigate the fine line between innovation and responsibility. Will AI empower journalists, or will it quietly redefine the way news is created?
The answer may determine the future of journalism itself.