In an era where artificial intelligence is reshaping industries at breakneck speed, one Italian newspaper has taken a bold step into the future — and come away with both excitement and caution.

Il Foglio, a conservative daily based in Italy, recently completed what it calls a world-first experiment: a four-page daily insert written entirely by AI and sold alongside its traditional newspaper for an entire month.

The result? A surprising boost in sales, and even more surprising — AI’s uncanny ability to write book reviews and craft ironic commentary.

AI Is Good at Style, But Lacks Substance

Speaking to a group of foreign journalists, Il Foglio’s editor, Claudio Cerasa, called the trial a success but emphasized one key lesson: while AI can produce clever text and even genuinely sounding irony, it can’t replace the critical, questioning mind of a human journalist.

“If you ask it to write an ironic article on any topic, AI knows how to do it,” Claudio Cerasa noted.
“But the most fundamental thing in journalism is discussion — a reporter telling you ‘no’ or challenging your ideas. That doesn’t happen with AI.”

Cerasa revealed that the AI system impressed him with its ability to analyze lengthy books — even dense 700-page tomes — and produce coherent, insightful reviews in mere minutes. However, its accuracy wasn’t always perfect.

In one example, the AI tool repeatedly refused to acknowledge that Donald Trump had won re-election in 2024 — highlighting one of AI’s current blind spots: outdated knowledge bases and factual errors.

Human Journalists vs. AI Tools: Complement, Not Replace

Cerasa was quick to push back against the idea that AI could eliminate newsroom jobs.

“Some publishers see AI as a way to have fewer journalists and more machines. That is very wrong and self-harming,” he said.

Instead, he sees AI as a tool to enhance reporting:

• Helping in areas where the paper lacks in-house expertise (for example, a recent astronomy article),
• Allowing journalists to focus on original storytelling and deeper analysis,
• Training a new generation of writers to ask better questions and harness AI as a co-pilot.

The Future: Weekly AI-Powered Sections

Following the success of the month-long experiment, Il Foglio plans to launch an AI-written section once a week, while sticking firmly to a human-led editorial vision.

Cerasa sees the technology as an assistant, not a replacement:

“Writers will be compelled to find new elements to be more creative and relatable.”

Final Thought

As AI continues to evolve, Cerasa’s experience is a timely reminder: artificial intelligence may write fast, craft irony, and even summarize complex ideas, but it still lacks the spark of human judgment — especially when it comes to asking tough questions, verifying facts, and telling stories that resonate on a human level.

Get the Latest AI News on AI Content Minds Blog