LA Times using AI comments to avoid its opinion pieces becoming an "echo chamber" - but not everyone is impressed

The Los Angeles Times (LA Times), under the direction of its billionaire owner Patrick Soon-Shiong, has launched a new initiative to diversify viewpoints in its opinion section by appending AI-generated counterpoints to its pieces. This move, intended to prevent the newspaper from becoming an “echo chamber” of uniform perspectives, has drawn both praise and criticism. While some see it as a step toward reducing bias, others — including the paper’s own journalists — are skeptical, questioning the reliability of AI content and its impact on trust in media.

The LA Times’ “Insights” feature uses artificial intelligence to analyze opinion articles and provide two key additions:

• Political rating: Each piece is assigned a label such as “Left,” “Center Left,” “Center,” “Center Right,” or “Right.”
• Alternative views: A list of counterpoints or differing perspectives on the topic is generated and displayed beneath the article.

This AI-driven commentary is applied exclusively to opinion content — labeled as “Voices” to distinguish it from news reporting — and is not reviewed by the paper’s editorial staff before publication. The tool was developed in collaboration with Perplexity, an AI search engine, and Particle News, a startup founded by former X engineers.

For instance, a recent opinion piece by Rachel Antell, Stephanie Jenkins, and Jennifer Petrucelli of the Archival Producers Alliance warned of the dangers of AI-generated footage in documentary filmmaking, arguing it could undermine trust in visual authenticity. The “Insights” tool rated this piece as “center-left” and countered with an AI-generated response asserting that AI “democratizes historical storytelling,” suggesting that “technological advancements can coexist with safeguards” and that “regulation risks stifling innovation.”

Similarly, opinion pieces critical of Donald Trump have been followed by AI-generated summaries of pro-Trump perspectives, such as defenses of his transgender military ban or his Ukraine policy as a “pragmatic reset” of U.S. foreign policy.

Soon-Shiong, who acquired the LA Times in 2018, has championed this initiative as a way to broaden discourse. In a statement on X, he wrote, “Now the voice and perspective from all sides can be heard, seen and read — no more echo chamber.” He views “Insights” as aligning with the paper’s mission to present diverse perspectives, particularly those that challenge its own editorial stance.

This move follows months of tension between Soon-Shiong and the paper’s opinion staff. In 2024, he blocked the editorial board from endorsing Kamala Harris for president, prompting resignations and subscription cancellations. The introduction of AI counterpoints appears to be part of his broader effort to reshape the paper’s editorial direction while addressing accusations of bias.

Not everyone is impressed with the LA Times’ new approach. The initiative has sparked significant pushback, particularly from the LA Times Guild, the union representing the paper’s journalists.

Matt Hamilton, vice-chair of the LA Times Guild, stated, “We don’t think this approach — AI-generated analysis unvetted by editorial staff — will do much to enhance trust in the media. Quite the contrary, this tool risks further eroding confidence in the news.” The union supports efforts to improve media literacy and distinguish news from opinion but argues that unreviewed AI content undermines journalistic integrity. They also note that the funds allocated to this project could have supported journalists, who have not received a cost-of-living increase since 2021.

The LA Times acknowledges that “artificial intelligence can be imperfect and incomplete,” encouraging readers to report errors. Critics worry about the accuracy of AI-generated content and the potential for the technology to introduce its own biases. Given Soon-Shiong’s influence as owner, some fear the AI could be tuned to reflect his preferences, despite its stated goal of neutrality.

The initiative comes amid broader scrutiny of billionaire-owned companies in media spaces. Like Elon Musk at X, Soon-Shiong has faced accusations of steering editorial policy to align with personal or business interests. Relying on AI to provide balance may sidestep deeper issues of media consolidation and owner influence rather than address them meaningfully.

Sure, the LA Times’ use of AI to append counterpoints to its opinion pieces is a bold attempt to break the echo chamber effect in media. While it aims to diversify perspectives and enhance media literacy, it has ignited debate about accuracy, trust, and the role of AI in journalism.