AI’s clearest media gains may come from operations and distribution

AI has so far made only a limited difference to the average reporter beyond research and some fact-checking, while its larger impact in media may be in product development, distribution and back-office automation. The journalism itself remains the core product; other functions can be automated or accelerated where possible.

At Axios, a newsletter was converted into a six-to-eight-card show for Instagram and Facebook in 36 hours and was live on Instagram in six days. The format enabled distribution across additional platforms without interrupting the underlying journalism, potentially expanding the audience and creating new revenue, including in local news.