Concerns have been raised that generative artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping the entire process of news production, distribution, and consumption, potentially leading to media dependence on global AI platforms. To address this, experts suggest establishing a solidarity framework among media organizations and creating standards for the use of news data, distribution history, and compensation systems to ensure information and data sovereignty in the AI era.
On July 22, a seminar titled 'Exploring Measures for Democratic Public Opinion Formation in the Age of AI Agents' was held at the National Assembly Hall in Yeouido, Seoul, co-hosted by the offices of Democratic Party lawmakers Hwang Hee and Lee Yeon-hee and the Korea Artificial Intelligence Association.
Attendees included Lee Woo-tak, a professor at Sogang University, Kim Kyung-tae, vice president of the Korea Artificial Intelligence Association, Jeong Seung-kyung, head of the Data Trust Center at the Korea Artificial Intelligence Association, Kwon Oh-hyun, director of Nexin Technology, and Ha Sung-heun, head of the Korea Trade Information Communication.
In his keynote address, Professor Lee Woo-tak emphasized that 'over the past 20 years, domestic media has ceded editorial control and news distribution leadership to portals, and now faces the risk of becoming dependent on generative AI platforms.' He urged that 'domestic media must unite around public media to redesign the order of news distribution.'
However, he also noted that the generative AI era does not solely present challenges for the media. 'As AI services require reliable and up-to-date information, this presents an opportunity for media to establish a trustworthy news supply system.'
Kim Kyung-tae, vice president of the Korea Artificial Intelligence Association, stated, 'In the age of AI, media must secure control over the standards and distribution of news data.' He described the relationship between media organizations and global AI companies like OpenAI as being on an 'uneven playing field,' where media outlets are inevitably influenced by the content provision methods and pricing conditions set by these companies.
He proposed that media organizations should create a common standard for news usage. Citing the example of the media coalition 'SPUR,' which includes the BBC and The Guardian, he suggested that when AI companies utilize media content, they should adhere to formats and conditions set by the media, ensuring transparency in the purpose and volume of article usage.
Additionally, he called for a pricing structure that varies based on the purpose of AI training, article citation, display, and reprocessing, along with a verification system to ensure compliance with contractual purposes.
Kim also recommended forming a 'News Providers Association' centered on public media to establish standards for news data, usage records, verification, and compensation systems, while collaborating with international media coalitions to enhance negotiation power against global AI companies.
Jeong Seung-kyung, head of the Data Trust Center at the Korea Artificial Intelligence Association, stressed the need to establish a data sovereignty system that guarantees ownership and control of media data in the AI era. He pointed out that high-quality data produced by media, including articles, columns, transcripts, photos, videos, and audio, is being used for AI training, yet the purposes and distribution channels remain opaque, and compensation for providers is inadequate.
Jeong explained that a transaction structure is needed to standardize media data, gather it in a central hub, verify the identities and purposes of utilizing companies, and track the distribution history of the data. He also proposed various compensation methods, such as subscriptions, bulk purchases, pay-per-use, and royalty sharing, to reward based on the value and usage of the data.
He concluded that to effectively utilize media data with technology, supportive policies and systems must be in place, advocating for the creation of a platform with transparent consumption pathways and compensation systems for providers. This would enable media organizations to exercise ownership and control over data, securing data sovereignty in the AI era.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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