Growing reliance on AI news summaries raises questions over accuracy, media bias
Washington: The use of artificial intelligence to summarise news has expanded rapidly which has reshaped how readers consume and interpret daily information. Major technology companies have introduced AI-powered summaries across platforms, including tools that analyse scanned newspaper clippings and condensed search results. These are positioned as quicker alternatives to traditional news reading.
Earlier this year, a study highlighted by The Guardian warned that AI-generated summaries could have a “devastating impact” on digital news outlets, citing evidence of up to an 80 per cent drop in click-through traffic as readers increasingly rely on AI-generated answers instead of visiting original news websites.
ALSO READ: Supreme Court declines urgent hearing on plea against PM’s chadar offering at Ajmer Dargah
Beyond economic consequences, experts have raised alarms about factual accuracy and embedded bias. Tim Graham, Director of Media Analysis at the US-based Media Research Center, recently argued that AI news summaries cannot be fully accurate because they depend on source material that may itself be biased, even if such sources are categorised as credible by AI systems. Speaking on the programme No Spin News with American journalist Bill O’Reilly, Graham said this limitation applies across platforms, including Grok, ChatGPT and Gemini.
Echoing these concerns, media scholar Dr. Mrinal Chatterjee, professor at the Indian Institute of Mass Communication in Dhenkanal, told Hinduatan Times that current AI systems lack the contextual understanding and common sense required to identify and filter bias. He further claimed that artificial intelligence reflects the opinions encoded in its training data. It cannot independently identify prejudice or narrative.
Dr Chatterjee stresses that discerning bias is a human responsibility that requires awareness, education, and critical engagement with news content. He points out that media bias can result from either deliberate influence or unintentional errors, and that while not all media organizations are biased, the risk is always there.
To address these challenges, while some readers and institutions are turning to analytical tools designed to assess media bias, platforms such as AllSides are providing comparative analysis of news outlets across ideological spectrums.
In the United States, the White House has also launched an online portal aimed at tracking media bias and misinformation. The platform catalogues what it describes as false or misleading reports, maintains a public list of repeat offenders.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Indian Coast Guard to observe 50th Raising Day on Feb 1
New Delhi (PTI): The Indian Coast Guard (ICG),established in 1977 with just seven surface platforms, has evolved into a "formidable maritime force" comprising 155 ships and 80 aircrafts, officials said on Saturday.
The ICG will observe its 50th Raising Day with an event here on Sunday, marking five decades of dedicated, selfless service to the nation, they said.
Raised on February 1, 1977, the ICG was envisioned to address emerging maritime challenges and safeguard India's expanding marine interests.
"From its humble beginnings in 1977 with just seven surface platforms, the ICG has evolved into a formidable maritime force comprising 155 ships and 80 aircrafts today," the ICG said.
By 2030, the ICG is "poised to achieve its target force levels of 200 surface platforms and 100 aircrafts, firmly establishing itself among the world's premier coast guard services," it said.
Since its inception, the organisation has "rescued over 11,800 lives", forging a legacy defined by compassion and courage, earning recognition as the enduring 'Saviours at Sea', a senior ICG official said.
Headquartered in Delhi, the force maintains vigil over 20.1 lakh sq km of India's Exclusive Economic Zone and 11,098.01 km of coastline, the ICG said in a statement.
From modest origins, it has grown into a powerful, versatile, and highly respected force entrusted with maritime law enforcement, coastal security, search and rescue, marine environmental protection, and humanitarian aid, officials said.
From close coordination with the Indian Navy during Operation Sindoor to daring rescue operations in Lakshadweep and the firm handling of three major maritime incidents off the Kerala coast in recent months, the ICG has demonstrated preparedness across the full spectrum of maritime contingencies, they said.
With extensive deployment of ships and aircrafts, coupled with high-tech electronic surveillance, the Coast Guard's persistent presence at sea reassures the maritime community and deters transgressions, they added.
Aligned with the vision of 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' and 'Make in India', the ICG is steadily moving towards self-reliance through induction of indigenously-built ships, aircrafts, helicopters, and advanced surveillance systems, while simultaneously prioritising infrastructure development and personnel welfare, the statement said.
The ICG said it also "remains firmly committed to gender neutrality and inclusivity, ensuring equal opportunities for women across seagoing, aviation, and shore-based roles, and fostering a professional environment defined by respect, merit, and mutual trust".
Guided by the prime minister's vision of 'Amrit Kaal' and anchored in the doctrines of SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions), the ICG forms a key pillar of India's maritime resurgence, promoting security, growth, cooperation, and collective prosperity across the oceans, it said.
In this evolving era, India's seas are not merely frontiers to be guarded, but "pathways of partnership, progress, and shared destiny", the ICG added.
On the global stage, the ICG strengthens maritime partnerships through humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions and capacity-building initiatives, the force said, adding that the unanimous decision to hand over presidency of 50th Coast Guard Global Summit to ICG in 2025 stands as a recognition of India's growing maritime leadership.
Ahead of the 50th Raising Day, the President of India, the vice-president, prime minister, and the defence minister, have extended regards to all ranks of the ICG, commending its remarkable achievements and acknowledging its vital role in safeguarding India's maritime interests, it said.
