Paper

AI tools approved for New York Times staff

The New York Times has officially approved the use of AI tools for its editorial and product teams, allowing AI to assist with tasks such as generating social media copy, writing SEO headlines, and coding. As part of this shift, the publication has introduced an internal AI tool called Echo and outlined strict guidelines for AI use in news production.

While AI can support research, suggest edits, and help brainstorm interview questions, staff have been warned not to use it to draft or substantially revise articles, nor to input confidential source information. The paper is also exploring AI-generated voice articles and translations into other languages.

This move comes as The New York Times remains engaged in a lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft, accusing them of copyright violations for training generative AI on its content. Despite these legal disputes, the paper has approved AI programs such as GitHub Copilot, Google’s Vertex AI, and OpenAI’s API for select business applications.

For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.

New carbon removal tech targets paper mills and sewage

Major firms including Google, Stripe, and Shopify have pledged $80 million to support innovative carbon capture technologies, targeting emissions from paper mills and sewage plants in the US. This investment is part of the Frontier coalition’s strategy to develop cost-effective solutions for reducing atmospheric carbon.

Two start-ups, CO280 and CREW, will benefit from the funding. CO280 plans to deploy carbon capture technology adapted from the oil industry to trap emissions from paper mills. Meanwhile, CREW will enhance wastewater treatment processes with limestone to absorb carbon dioxide, leveraging rocks’ natural CO2-attracting properties.

The coalition’s aim is to drive down the cost of carbon removal to $100 per metric ton in the US, a significant reduction from current prices. Frontier’s head of deployment, Hannah Bebbington, highlighted the potential to integrate these technologies into older industries, paving the way for large-scale, affordable carbon removal in the near future.