Tech reporters use AI tools like Claude to help write, edit, and fact-check stories, raising questions about human journalists’ value.
New York: Alex Heath is a tech reporter who uses AI to help him write stories. He talks into a microphone and AI writes his first draft. He talks to Claude, an AI chatbot, using a voice-to-text service.
Heath built a system with Claude that connects to his emails, calendar, and notes. He taught Claude to write like him by giving it his old stories and writing rules. This system saves him time – he spends 30-40% less time writing now. He says he never liked starting from zero but now it’s fun.
Other tech reporters are doing the same thing. They use AI to replace editors and fact-checkers they lost when going independent. But they still do the real reporting and talking to sources. The AI just helps them write faster and better.
Some people worry that using AI makes writing sound the same. AI can make stories less creative and interesting. But reporters say they still bring something special – their knowledge, sources, and unique way of seeing things. Jasmine Sun, another reporter, never uses AI to write but uses it to edit her work.
Heath says Claude is like having a rewrite desk from old newsrooms. In the past, reporters called in stories and someone else wrote them up. Now AI does that job. He feels like he’s cheating but in a good way. He likes reporting and getting scoops more than writing.