Let’s explore one of the most trending topics nowadays: the possible applications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for journalists and editors. 

It’s worth noting that most articles about AI merely compile different tools without providing insight into utilizing them effectively.

Here is some advice on how to make a journalist’s job more manageable. It’s important to note that most tools available today are either paid or have limited free versions. However, the fees for these tools are not overly expensive. For instance, ChatGPT is one of the most effective tools available, and its paid version costs $20 monthly. Midjourney is currently the most successful tool for generating images, costing $10 monthly. These prices are affordable for most editorials.

You can certainly utilize the free version of ChatGPT and its DALL-E image-generating versions. For instance, you may use the Microsoft Copilot tool that operates similarly. However, there are certain limitations to consider. For example, several attachments, such as plugins that offer extra features, may not function properly.

Please note that the text tools available are not functional or work poorly in Armenian. Therefore, it is recommended to use English or Russian.

Let’s explore some valuable features the two main text tools, ChatGPT and Google Bard, offer.

Both of these tools can narrate a lengthy article’s content. Essentially, you provide the tool with a link to an article or a PDF file, and then you can ask it specific questions and receive answers. In the case of Google Bard, if you activate the extensions section, you can provide your own Google files and ask questions about their content in dialog mode. However, it’s important to note that these tools currently cannot work with Armenian files.

When working with large amounts of data, such as those found in articles, you can ask for help visualizing them by creating graphs and diagrams. Remember that this is a dialog mode, so if you don’t like the style of the diagram, you can ask the assistant to make changes. You can even provide instructions on how to improve the infographic’s appearance.

You can use the Google search engine and paid ChatGPT service to explore the internet, find the needed materials, summarize them, and extract specific data. The important thing is not to hesitate to communicate with an AI, make the most of its capabilities, and remember that it is not a living being.

Another helpful tool is creating illustrative images for articles. Editorial offices often have to spend money to buy pictures, which is a rare practice in Armenia. Alternatively, you may find free photos that are overused and unoriginal, or even worse, resort to stealing, which is a highly unethical practice.

AI provides a quick and efficient way to address these issues. For instance, Microsoft Copilot, a free version of ChatGPT with a few limitations, can generate an environmental report in just 30 seconds. This report can help identify and visualize environmental problems.

Unfortunately, ChatGPT is hesitant to depict real political figures, and refuses to do so. However, Midjorney can be asked to portray a meeting between Putin and Erdogan.

Even in a more intimmate setting.

You can even have it depict the President of Russia riding on an elephant.

Despite the availability of some of the best tools out there, creating photos or pictures of the Armenian political elite remains a difficult task.

In any case, even if you opt for paid versions of the best tools, the editorial team can still receive free time and resources with minimal financial burden. These resources just need to be utilized efficiently.

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The views expressed in the column are those of the author's and do not necessarily reflect the views of Media.am.