--- title: "USA Today Using AI to Generate Parts of Articles, Leaked Memo Shows" description: "The American newspaper giant and USA Today owner Gannett is using AI to generate a bulleted list of \"Key Points\" for news articles." date: "2024-05-17" modified: "2024-05-17" authors: - name: "Maggie Harrison Dupré" job_title: "Senior Staff Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/mharrison" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/usa-today-ai-articles-memo" categories: - "Artificial Intelligence" tags: - "ai" - "ai journalism" - "ai-generated content" - "the digest" --- # USA Today Using AI to Generate Parts of Articles, Leaked Memo Shows ![The American newspaper giant and USA Today owner Gannett is using AI to generate a bulleted list of "Key Points" for news articles.]() *ILLUSTRATION - The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post and USA Today Newspapers headlines are seen in Washington D.C., USA, 16 April 2013. Three people were killed and over 100 were injured when two bombs exploded on 15 April 2013 at the finish line of the Boston marathon. Foto: Arno Burgi dpa +++(c) dpa - Bildfunk+++ | usage worldwide (Photo by Arno Burgi/picture alliance via Getty Images) \Image: Arno Burgi/picture alliance via Getty Images\* ## Key Points The American newspaper giant Gannett is using AI to generate parts of its articles, [*The Verge* reports](). A leaked memo reviewed by the *Verge* reveals that the media conglomerate — which owns the national title *USA Today*, in addition to hundreds of local newspapers — has rolled out a program that drafts AI-generated "Key Points," or a short AI-generated list of bulleted takeaways pinned to the top of a given article. The Gannett memo states that the AI tool was trained by Gannett during a nine-month period, according to the *Verge*'s reporting. The automated roundup tool "aims to enhance the reporting process and elevate the audience experience," according to the memo. How such a tool would do much of either, though — unless elevating the "audience experience" simply means keeping readers from having to read an article in full — is unclear. ## Already Out There Per the *Verge,* the new AI tool already appears to be in use. Articles that have employed the program are outfitted with a clear disclaimer, which reads that the "Key Points at the top of this article were created with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and reviewed by a journalist before publication." "No other parts of the article were generated using AI," the disclaimer adds. A quick Google search for the disclosure yields a long list of articles published by Gannett papers outfitted with the AI-drafted bullet points, including [many]() [in]() [*USA Today*](). For its part, Gannett simply told the *Verge* that the memo "speaks for itself." ## GAInett This isn't the first time this week that Gannett has been in the news for its AI efforts. As [*Digiday* reported]() earlier this week, Gannett employees at the Rochester, New York-serving *Democrat & Chronicle* newspaper are [furious]() after their owner quietly altered contract language to say that AI can be used by newsrooms to "generate news content" with seemingly little to no boundaries. AI has also caused credibility problems for the publisher. Last August, the newspaper giant was found publishing [bizarre and error-laden]() AI-generated [posts]() about local high school sports matchups in many of its regional papers. Not too long after that, writers at the *USA Today* site *Reviewed* [publicly accused]() Gannett of publishing AI-generated articles bylined by fake authors, allegations that a recent *Futurism* investigation into the articles' provider [further corroborated](). (Gannett has denied that AI was used to generate the articles' text.) In short, Gannett is leading the way to incorporate AI into journalism, albeit with sometimes scandalous results. But maybe the media giant's insistence on using AI says more about the state of the [American newspaper economy]() than it does about the technology itself. **More on AI and journalism:** [*Publishers Horrified at New Google AI Feature That Could Kill What's Left of Journalism*]() ## Author At Futurism, I've reported extensively on the rise of AI as a cultural and business force shaping the media industry, and more broadly how those dynamics are changing how we all consume and share information and relate to one another. I'm also fascinated by public health policy and ethics, the role of emerging tech in politics and governance — and the powerful people and forces at those intersections — climate change, and the environment. My investigation on Sports Illustrated's use of AI-generated authors with fictional biographies won a 2024 Mirror Award for "Best Story on Media Coverage of Artificial Intelligence in Journalism and the Media" from Syracuse University's SI Newhouse School, I contributed to Niemen Lab's 2025 Predictions for Journalism series, and I've discussed my work for Futurism during appearances on NPR, CNN, the BBC, the CBC, and more. I grew up in rural Pennsylvania and attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where I played Division I field hockey for the Minutewomen as a midfielder. Since then, I've lived in New Orleans, Louisiana and Manhattan, New York. I spend my free time running, reading, perusing archival fashion, and searching for the world’s best negroni. I also have a debonair tuxedo cat, Westley, who's named after "The Princess Bride." ### Author social links [Bluesky]()