A Journalist's Guide To AI

Hosted by ProfYumi

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Oct 2026

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A Journalist’s Guide to AI helps journalists, PR pros and media creators use AI without losing their voice. Hosted by professor and coach Yumi Wilson, each episode offers practical tips, real prompts, and ethical strategies using tools like ChatGPT, Otter.ai, and Perplexity. Learn how to write smarter, research faster, and stay human in a tech-driven world. Produced in partnership with Saspod. Subscribe for weekly insights that keep you sharp, creative, and ahead of the curve.

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October 5, 202656 min

Local News, AI and the Fight for Trust | Eric Johnston

AI isn’t just a technology story for journalism. It’s a leadership story, a business story and increasingly, a question of whether local news organizations can remain sustainable. In this episode of A Journalist’s Guide to AI , Yumi Wilson talks with Eric Johnston, former CEO of Sonoma Media Investments, about what happens when AI enters an industry already dealing with shrinking margins, changing audience behavior, declining website traffic and growing challenges to public trust. Eric has spent decades working through technological change in journalism, beginning as a photojournalist and eventually leading media organizations through digital transformation and acquisition. He and Yumi discuss the rise of zero-click news, media literacy in an age of convincing AI-generated content, the economics of community journalism and why journalists should remain skeptical of AI without refusing to learn how to use it. Eric also introduces LiquidAmber, an AI-powered platform that lets journalists search and interact with their publication’s archives, helping reporters uncover history, sources and context while keeping publishers in control of their content. Topics include: • AI and the economics of local journalism • Zero-click search and declining referral traffic • Trust, misinformation and media literacy • Sustainable models for community news • Using newsroom archives as a reporting resource • LiquidAmber and AI-assisted research • Privacy, hallucinations and human oversight • Ethical boundaries for AI-generated journalism • Why skepticism remains one of journalism’s greatest strengths • Adaptability, curiosity and the next generation of journalists Learn more Eric Johnston on LinkedIn LiquidAmber California Press Foundation Follow A Journalist’s Guide to AI wherever you listen to podcasts and share this episode with someone thinking about the future of journalism, local news and AI. NOTE: AI tools, including Riverside and ChatGPT, were used for transcription and to help draft and edit these show notes. Final content was reviewed by Yumi Wilson. Follow Yumi: https://yumiwilson.me https://www.linkedin.com/in/yumiwilson/ Sponsored By: Saspod https://saspod.com/register?refcode=ProfYumiQcLU

September 7, 202641 min

AI Agents, News, Regulation & Verification with Nat Rubio-Licht of The Deep View

What happens when AI tools move faster than the rules meant to govern them, and what does that mean for journalists? Yumi Wilson talks with Nat Rubio-Licht, senior reporter at The Deep View , about AI safety, regulation, agents, misinformation and the growing pressure artificial intelligence is putting on news organizations. Nat covers AI through the lenses of ethics, safety and accountability. She explains why journalists need to understand not only what these tools can do, but also what happens when AI agents gain access to data, systems and permissions, and why human judgment remains essential. In this episode: How AI agents can help and create new risks Why regulation and oversight are struggling to keep pace Permissions, data access and agent security Zero-click search and what it means for publishers Responsible uses of AI for reporting, research and transcription Why journalists must verify AI-generated claims and sources The takeaway: AI can help journalists work faster, but it cannot take responsibility for the work. Journalists still have to check sources, challenge outputs, protect sensitive information and make the final judgment. About Nat Rubio-Licht Nat Rubio-Licht is a senior reporter at The Deep View, covering artificial intelligence, enterprise technology, ethics, safety and the real-world impact of AI. Learn more The Deep View: https://www.thedeepview.com/ Read Nat’s article, “The race for power behind AI’s utopian story” : https://www.thedeepview.com/articles/the-race-for-power-behind-ai-s-utopian-story About the show A Journalist’s Guide to AI explores how artificial intelligence is changing journalism while keeping human judgment, ethics and trust at the center. Follow the show wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow Yumi: https://yumiwilson.me https://www.linkedin.com/in/yumiwilson/ Sponsored By: Saspod https://saspod.com/register?refcode=ProfYumiQcLU

July 1, 202648 min

Nikitha Lokareddy on Building Unspun AI, Zero-Click Search and the Future of Visibility

In this episode of A Journalist’s Guide to AI , Yumi Wilson talks with communications strategist and Unspun AI founder Nikitha Lokareddy about what happens when communicators move from using AI to building with it. Nikitha shares how she built Unspun AI, an AI-powered news intelligence tool that delivers daily briefings, compares sources, analyzes media bias and tracks social signals. She also explains why subject-matter expertise matters, how AI summaries are changing search and why journalists, students and communications teams need to understand SEO, AEO, GEO and zero-click discovery. This conversation is for journalists, educators, communicators and organizations trying to use AI responsibly without losing trust, voice or editorial judgment. Topics include: Building with AI without a formal coding background Unspun AI and news intelligence AI summaries and zero-click search SEO, AEO and GEO Source comparison and media bias analysis AI fluency for students and early-career communicators Why human judgment still matters Learn more about Nikitha Lokareddy: https://www.nikithalokareddy.com/ Check out Unspun AI: https://unspun-ai.com Learn more about Yumi Wilson’s AI workshops, webinars and consulting: https://www.yumiwilson.me Follow Yumi: https://yumiwilson.me https://www.linkedin.com/in/yumiwilson/ Sponsored By: Saspod https://saspod.com/register?refcode=ProfYumiQcLU

June 1, 202633 min

Is Your AI Transcription Tool Putting Your Sources at Risk?

What happens to a journalist's interview after it is uploaded to an AI transcription tool? That question goes straight to the heart of one of journalism's oldest promises: protect your sources. In this episode, host Yumi Wilson sits down with Good Tape CEO and co-founder Lasse Finderup and puts to him the questions every journalist should ask any AI transcription company, including his own: Who owns the data? Can the company train on it? Where does the recording go, and does it leave the jurisdiction? Who can access it? And how do we protect sources while still using tools that speed up reporting? Lasse's most practical advice: before you trust any tool with a confidential interview, read its terms of service and search for three words: “train,” “rights,” and “perpetuity.” What you find (or don't) tells you whether your recordings stay yours. Source data, he argues, deserves far more care than ordinary workplace files, because you're handling it on someone else's behalf. The conversation also explores Good Tape's newsroom roots at Zetland in Copenhagen, where it was built; its EU-based, GDPR-compliant approach to privacy; why Lasse refuses to advertise a tidy accuracy percentage; audit trails that let you trace an AI-generated summary back to the exact moment in the recording; multilingual transcription; and a new feature in beta, working name "artificial memory,” that connects your past interviews to future reporting. One example Lasse offers: interview a source today, interview them again a year later, and the tool flags that they've contradicted what they told you before. That contradiction is a story in itself. This episode marks a new chapter for A Journalist's Guide to AI : a new production team, a renewed focus, and the show's first sponsor, Good Tape , a company built by journalists, and one Yumi holds to the same standard she urges you to apply to everyone else. If you use AI tools for interviews, transcription, research or reporting, this conversation is for you. Guest: Lasse Finderup, CEO and Co-Founder of Good Tape Host: Yumi Wilson, Broadcast Journalism Professor, San Francisco State University Podcast: A Journalist's Guide to AI Please subscribe for more conversations about how AI is changing journalism, storytelling, trust and the future of media. To learn more, check out: yumiwilson.me or connect with me on LinkedIn! A note on timing: This episode was recorded in March 2026. During the conversation, we touched on Anthropic's decision to turn down a Pentagon contract over the Pentagon's redlines on surveillance and autonomous weapons, and OpenAI's decision to accept a similar deal. That reporting was accurate at the time, but the situation has continued to evolve since then, including renewed negotiations and additional government AI contracts. For the current state of play, consult up-to-date reporting. *These show notes were drafted with AI assistance and reviewed, revised and approved by Yumi Wilson. Follow Yumi: https://yumiwilson.me https://www.linkedin.com/in/yumiwilson/ Sponsored By: Saspod https://saspod.com/register?refcode=ProfYumiQcLU

January 19, 202640 min

Can We Trust AI Detection? Inside Pangram Labs

What happens when we start relying on AI a little too much? In this episode of A Journalist’s Guide to AI , I talk with Max Spero, co-founder of Pangram Labs, about AI verification—and the deeper questions behind it. Not just can we detect AI-generated text, but why it matters for how we learn, communicate, and trust one another. Max describes AI as “a fairly new paradigm,” and one of the risks he keeps coming back to is subtle yet serious: when we overuse AI, we may not learn as effectively as we think. There are millions of AI use cases and no shortage of people building new tools. But Max says the reason he started Pangram is a bigger concern about the future of communication itself. Some people imagine a future where AI agents mostly talk to other AI agents. “To me,” Max says, “that’s a grim future.” We talk about why many AI detection tools fail, how false positives can cause real harm in newsrooms and classrooms, and why verification should support accountability—not punishment. This conversation is for journalists, educators, and anyone trying to think clearly about what it means to keep humans, learning, and trust at the center of an AI-driven world. Learn more Max Spero: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxspero Pangram Labs: https://pangramlabs.com Pangram AI Detection Tool: https://pangramlabs.com/product Follow Yumi: https://yumiwilson.me https://www.linkedin.com/in/yumiwilson/ Sponsored By: Saspod https://saspod.com/register?refcode=ProfYumiQcLU

December 15, 20251 hr 14 min

The Future of Podcasting - Is AI Taking Over? - Bogdan Bratis

In this episode of "A Journalist's Guide To AI," host Yumi Wilson sits down with podcast producer and founder of Saspod, Bogdan Bratis. They dive into Bogdan Bratis's unique journey from his early music career to building Saspod, a premier podcast production company based in the UK. The discussion covers valuable tips for aspiring podcasters, including the importance of podcast SEO, show naming strategies, and investing in sound quality. The conversation also explores the growing influence of AI in media—how tools like ChatGPT and audio enhancers are shaping the podcasting landscape, the risks of AI-generated misinformation, and practical ways to manage your online reputation in the age of AI. Both Bogdan Bratis and Yumi Wilson reflect on the importance of authenticity, quality content, and the challenges and excitement of podcasting in today’s rapidly evolving digital world. (00:30) Introduction & Background - Bogdan Bratis (02:50) Transition from Music to Podcast Production (06:53) The Importance of Curiosity and Self-driven Learning (08:26) Podcast Discovery, SEO & Naming Tips (13:15) AI Tools for Podcasting & Measuring Digital Presence (16:19) Podcasting vs Traditional Media: Trends & Growth (23:23) Keys to Podcast Success & Avoiding “Podfade” (25:58) The Critical Role of Audio Quality (40:47) AI in Editing: Tools and Pitfalls (49:33) Deepfakes, Audio Cloning, and the Risks Ahead (00:17) Controlling Your Personal Brand Online (ChatGPT, LinkedIn, Wikipedia) (55:18) The Future of AI, Media, and Podcasting (58:22) Practical Tips: Prompting AI and Maintaining Human Voice Follow Bogdan Bratis: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bratis/ Website: https://saspod.com/podcast-production Follow Yumi: https://yumiwilson.me https://www.linkedin.com/in/yumiwilson/ Sponsored By: Saspod https://saspod.com/register?refcode=ProfYumiQcLU

November 6, 202548 min

How Journalists Adapt To The AI Revolution with Bahareh Heravi

In this episode of "A Journalist's Guide To AI," host Yumi Wilson interviews Dr. Bahareh Heravi, an associate professor and AI expert focused on responsible AI use in journalism. Dr. Heravi shares her journey from a computer science background to merging technology with journalism, inspired largely by the challenges of news detection during Iran’s Green Revolution. The conversation covers the evolving role of AI and computational tools in newsrooms, noting how initial skepticism is slowly being replaced by experimentation, especially following the arrival of generative AI tools like ChatGPT. Dr. Heravi discusses the diversity of attitudes among journalists; some are eager to adapt to AI, while others resist, fearing a loss of professional identity or journalistic integrity. The episode explores how AI tools are democratizing writing, supporting those who face language barriers, and enabling greater collaboration between technical and editorial roles. Yumi and Bahareh also address practical concerns about privacy, data protection, and the importance of clear organizational guidelines for AI use. Dr. Heravi emphasizes that ongoing education, responsible experimentation, and peer support are key as journalists navigate this new landscape, ultimately highlighting how AI can enhance both reporting and writing while safeguarding trust and ethical standards in media. (00:00) AI Guidelines, Journalist Uncertainty, and Risk Aversion (01:16) Introduction of Dr. Bahareh Heravi (02:02) Heravi’s Personal Journey into AI & Journalism (04:35) Early Newsroom Experience and Initial Tech Integration (07:18) Evolution of Technology, Social Media, and AI Adoption (10:57) What is NLP? Distinguishing Terms (12:07) Journalists’ Attitudes Toward GenAI Tools (15:49) The Writer’s Identity Debate & AI’s Influence (17:54) Language Barriers and AI as an Equalizer (22:03) Data & Computational Skills in Journalism (26:57) Practical Advice on Tools for Journalists (28:48) Privacy Concerns with AI Tools and Data Storage (32:14) Everyday Privacy, Data Collection, and Personalization (36:43) Personal vs. Source Data: Journalistic Ethics (38:44) Consent, Transcription, and Organizational Policy (41:18) Corporate AI Solutions and Internal Protections (43:03) AI Training, Literacy, and Policy Development in Newsrooms (46:29) Moving From Theory to Practical Guidance (47:10) Closing Remarks & Takeaways Read Article: Follow Yumi: https://yumiwilson.me https://www.linkedin.com/in/yumiwilson/ Sponsored By: Saspod https://saspod.com/register?refcode=ProfYumiQcLU

September 15, 202533 min

What is Artificial Super Intelligence and Will it Replace Us?

In this episode of "A Journalist’s Guide to AI," host Yumi Wilson dives into the evolution of artificial intelligence and what the future could look like as we move toward Artificial Super Intelligence (ASI). Yumi breaks down the three main stages of AI: Artificial Narrow Intelligence (ANI), which powers today’s AI tools like ChatGPT and is excellent at specific tasks; Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), theorized to match human flexibility and cross-domain reasoning but not yet achieved; and finally, ASI, a level where intelligence surpasses human capabilities in every way. Yumi explains the technologies and advances needed to reach AGI and ASI, like multisensory AI, advanced neural networks, neuromorphic computing, and evolutionary algorithms. She discusses both the potential benefits, such as problem-solving, creativity enhancement, and reduced bias, and serious risks, including loss of control, economic disruption, and existential threats. Throughout the episode, Yumi keeps journalism and media impact front and center, pondering what fully autonomous newsrooms and predictive journalism might mean for the profession. She stresses the importance of human responsibility, ethics, and staying informed as AI develops. Yumi encourages listeners to get involved, ask questions, and consider both the promise and perils of the AI-powered future. (00:57) - What is Artificial Narrow Intelligence (ANI)? (03:57) - Shoutout to SaaSpod (Podcast Production Partner) (05:08) - Transition from ANI to AGI and ASI (05:54) - What is Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)? (08:05) - What is Artificial Super Intelligence (ASI)? (11:43) - How Could We Get to ASI? (19:00) - Benefits and Risks of ASI (23:02) - Ethical Dilemmas and Considerations (24:53) - Futurist Predictions (Ray Kurzweil & Others) (27:09) - Current Developments & Global Competition in AI (29:02) - Implications for Journalism & Media (30:49) - Who Will Control ASI? Accessibility and Risks (31:17) - Final Thoughts and Call to Engagement Follow Yumi: https://yumiwilson.me https://www.linkedin.com/in/yumiwilson/ Sponsored By: Saspod https://saspod.com/register?refcode=ProfYumiQcLU

August 14, 202556 min

The Future of AI in Journalism with Esther Paniagua

In this episode of A Journalist’s Guide to AI we have Esther Paniagua an award winning independent journalist and author specialised in science, technology and cybersecurity. Esther has received numerous accolades for her work, including multiple journalism awards. She has been recognized as one of the Top 100 Women Leaders in Spain and named one of Forbes’ Top 100 Most Creative People in Business. She also teaches “AI Journalism” at various universities. Esther shares her journey from early tech adoption to becoming an expert in AI and journalism, discussing how AI is rapidly transforming the media landscape. They delve into the challenges faced by small newsrooms in adopting AI, the growing dominance of synthetic and AI-generated content (with a stark prediction that 90% of online content could be AI-generated by 2026), and the ongoing shifts in business models as platforms like Google and generative AI tools impact media revenue. Esther emphasizes the importance of regulation, sustainable funding, and responsible technology development to preserve quality journalism in the face of these changes. She also highlights environmental concerns related to data centers and AI’s carbon footprint, advocating for informed consumer choices and public protest as forms of accountability. Towards the end of the episode, Yumi and Esther discuss practical tips for choosing more privacy-conscious and eco-friendly digital tools. Esther also noted that the actual estimation of how much money Google owes to US publishers annually for use of their content on its platform is US$10–12 billion. Researchers also estimate (using a conservative assumption) that Facebook owes US$1.9 billion to publishers annually. Source: IPD Columbia 00:00 - Funding Challenges for Small Newsrooms & Rise of AI Content 00:53 - Introducing Esther Paniagua 01:48 - Esther’s Journey into Journalism & Technology 04:10 - Specializing in Science and Technology Journalism 05:19 - Reporting on AI: Early Days and IBM Watson 07:07 - First AI Applications in Journalism 08:22 - Did We See AI’s Influence on Journalism Coming? 09:56 - How Google Changed the Media Landscape 12:01 - How Search and AI Are Shaping News Consumption 13:25 - AI Platforms Paying for News Content: Worth It? 14:57 - Why Pay for News Anymore? Is It Inevitable? 15:56 - The Role of Regulation in AI & Journalism 19:39 - Saving Journalism: Funding and the Need for Quality News 22:29 - Where Does the Money Come From? The Broken Business Model 27:15 - Covering Technology’s Social & Environmental Impact 32:39 - The Environmental Impact of AI: Energy and Water Use 35:35 - Are There Greener AI Solutions? Deep SEQ Example 40:16 - Regulation: The US vs. EU Approach to AI Oversight 42:28 - What If There’s No AI Regulation? 43:38 - Consumer Power: What You Can Do 46:04 - Practical Tips: Privacy-Friendly Tech Alternatives 51:25 - Social Media, Network Effects, and Consumer Choice 52:06 - Where to Follow Esther’s Work 54:03 - Wrap-Up, Final Thoughts, and Thank You Follow Esther: https://estherpaniagua.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/estherpaniagua/ https://www.instagram.com/e_paniagua Esther's book: https://estherpaniagua.com/en/books/ Follow Yumi: https://yumiwilson.me https://www.linkedin.com/in/yumiwilson/ Sponsored By: Saspod https://saspod.com/register?refcode=ProfYumiQcLU

July 31, 202514 min

Deep Seek vs Chat GPT: Exploring the New Frontier in AI Language Models

In this episode of "A Journalist's Guide To AI," host Yumi Wilson dives into a head-to-head comparison between Deep Seek—the new open-source AI model from China—and ChatGPT. Yumi breaks down the hype surrounding Deep Seek, discussing its rapid rise, open-source nature, and the impact it's had on tech stocks and online conversations. To get a clearer picture of how these two AIs stack up, Yumi runs three real-world tests: summarising the day’s top news, crafting an engaging headline, and writing a press release. While Deep Seek impresses with its innovation and price, it stumbles on timely, accurate information, at times serving up outdated stories. ChatGPT, on the other hand, continues to shine with up-to-date facts and structured writing, but is not without its own hiccups, like producing an inaccurate headline. Yumi emphasises the importance of fact-checking all AI-generated content and encourages listeners to try the prompts themselves. The episode concludes with practical takeaways on the strengths and weaknesses of each model and a reminder that, as always, original human thinking remains essential. (00:00) – Introduction & What is Deep Seek? (01:57) – Why Journalists Should Care: Comparing Deep Seek & ChatGPT (02:51) – Setting Up the Head-to-Head Test: CTC Model Explained (04:10) – Round 1: News Summaries Showdown (07:28) – Round 2: Best Headline Battle (08:30) – Round 3: Press Release Challenge (11:37) – Final Verdict: Which AI Wins? (12:25) – Key Takeaways & Best Practices (13:29) – Acknowledgements & Closing Follow Yumi: https://yumiwilson.me Follow Yumi: https://yumiwilson.me https://www.linkedin.com/in/yumiwilson/ Sponsored By: Saspod https://saspod.com/register?refcode=ProfYumiQcLU