We don't need to look for the news we consume anymore; it appears neatly curated and served up conveniently in our social media apps, search engines and dedicated news apps.
Personalised news feeds define how we consume information and influence our opinions by osmosis. "Attentive" social media platforms, AI-driven news aggregators and algorithms feed us content tailored to our preferences, ensuring we see the headlines that capture our attention. While this is convenient and likely to keep us more engaged over a morning coffee, it also raises critical questions about its impact on our world views and the broader implications for society.
The appeal of personalisation
Personalised news feeds use advanced algorithms to analyse user behaviour—like browsing history, likes, shares and time spent on specific content. The result is a curated stream of articles, videos and posts that feel uniquely relevant. This has revolutionised the way we interact with information, making the browsing experience more efficient, engaging and enlightening, at least ostensibly.
By filtering out irrelevant content, personalised feeds save time and effort. Tailored stories resonate more deeply, encouraging readers to spend more time on the platforms that give them what they want. Algorithms handpick niche topics or viewpoints they might not have encountered otherwise.
The risks no one really talks about
Despite its benefits, personalisation has a few downsides that can subtly shape—and even distort—our understanding of the world. In fact, the surprising reality is that, even though there are millions of news sources to consume online, personalisation can cause varying degrees of tunnel vision. The handy algorithms that serve up the content we love can create what experts refer to as the "echo chamber"effect. When we only consume content similar to what we have consumed in the recent past, we risk being caught in a feedback loop that reinforces existing beliefs and shuts down objectivity or more diverse viewpoints.
Personalised feeds can also amplify biases, both personal and systemic. For example, if a user frequently clicks on politically biased content, the algorithm may prioritise similar stories, perpetuating one-sided thinking. And in our pursuit of engagement, we become more vulnerable to misinformation, as algorithms favour more sensational or misleading stories. This exacerbates the spread of misinformation and challenges efforts to promote fact-based reporting.
A platform that may tip the scales in personalised consumption
Balance may be achievable. One platform in particular suggests that the way to beat the AI algorithms at their own game is through, well... AI, of course. Enter newsGPT.ai. NewsGPT.ai is a new take on AI-driven journalism, promising readers real-time news updates without human bias. By aggregating information from multiple verified sources and generating reports through advanced machine learning, it aims to ensure consistency and rapid dissemination of facts.
This "roving robot reporter" is the world's first news channel generated entirely by artificial intelligence. It uses large language models to cross-reference and fact-check content against multiple credible sources, geo-locations and meta-images before publication. Based on the philosophy that editorial opinion is just that—opinion—the platform encourages its users to evaluate the content they consume critically, emphasising accuracy and data-driven reporting. While AI-generated content may not replace investigative journalism—at least, not yet—the site, established in 2023, provides an alternative to personalised bias, claiming to "eliminate personal opinions and agendas.
Could history—a narrative its victors have always shaped—change its course after centuries of one-sided storytelling? Perhaps the textbooks in 2040 will chronicle reality, not only as some of us saw it, but as it would have been if we removed our blinkers. As AI continues to slide into every imaginable industry, perhaps the stories future generations read about us will be more truth than legend.
