Newsrooms have been exploring AI for several years, but most of these initiatives have remained experimental. A lesser-known startup, Symbolic.ai, aims to change that with a significant deal recently struck with News Corp, the media giant owned by Rupert Murdoch.
News Corp, which includes major outlets like MarketWatch, the New York Post, and The Wall Street Journal, is set to implement Symbolic’s AI platform within its financial news service, Dow Jones Newswires.
Symbolic.ai, co-founded by former eBay CEO Devin Wenig and Ars Technica co-founder Jon Stokes, claims its AI technology can “assist in the production of quality journalism and content,” achieving “productivity gains of up to 90% for complex research tasks.” The platform aims to enhance editorial workflows by streamlining processes like newsletter creation, audio transcription, fact-checking, headline optimization, and SEO support.
Overall, News Corp has shown openness to integrating AI in its media operations. In 2024, the company established a multi-year partnership with OpenAI, allowing it to license its content to the AI firm. Last November, News Corp hinted at the possibility of branching out further by licensing its material to additional AI companies.
