X (formerly known as Twitter), is taking a different approach to covering news on its platform. The company has announced that it will now use Grok to generate summaries of personalized trending stories within the app's Explore section. This move, detailed by X's engineering team and various tech journalists, is a significant shift in the interaction between AI and media consumption.
Unlike traditional news summaries that might rely on human input or simple algorithms, Grok draws directly from the discussions happening on X. This means the summaries aren't just regurgitating news articles; they're capturing the essence of what people are saying about these stories on the platform.
For example, if there's a trending story about Tesla's upgraded Model Y, the summary at the top of the page will give users an overview of the subject, providing context and highlighting key aspects. Below will be various posts that are relevant to the topic. I've been using the feature for the past two weeks and am loving it.
For now, the feature is exclusive to X’s Premium subscribers who will be able to access Grok's summaries by navigating to the "For You" page within the app's Explore section, where they can tap into each story to see the AI-generated overview.
This approach has its advantages, such as providing a dynamic and real-time pulse of public opinion and interest. However, it also raises concerns. By focusing solely on user discussions and not the articles themselves, there is a risk that the summaries might miss crucial details or context that professional journalism provides.
This could be a big deal for the news media landscape. On one hand, it promises a quicker, more engaging way to stay informed without the need to dive into full articles. On the other, it challenges the traditional role of news publishers and could affect how newsrooms are valued and monetized in an AI-dominated landscape.
The use of AI in news summarization isn't unique to X. Other platforms and startups are exploring similar technologies, each with its method and focus. For instance, Arc’s new web browser features an AI summary tool, and former Twitter engineers have launched a news summary service called Particle. These developments suggest a growing trend where AI plays a central role in how news is delivered and consumed.
If executed properly, Grok could become a valuable entry point for discovering news stories that might otherwise go unnoticed. After all, news and commentary are what drew many users to the X platform in the first place.
To strike a balance between innovation and fair play, X will need to focus on improving citation and ensuring that original sources receive proper recognition. As the AI landscape continues to evolve, finding a mutually beneficial relationship between platforms, users, and publishers will be crucial. The relationship between technology companies and news publishers will likely become more complex.
Richard Banfield
Partnerships, like OpenAI's with the Financial Times, show one path forward, blending AI's capabilities with traditional news sources. But X's approach could dramatically shift the landscape and significantly influence how and where news is produced and consumed globally.