Associated Press CEO Daisy Veerasingham is integrating artificial intelligence to transform the news agency into a journalism and data provider [1].
This shift marks a pivotal moment for the 180-year-old institution [1]. As legacy media outlets struggle to adapt to generative AI, the AP is attempting to balance the efficiency of machine learning with the ethical requirements of human-led reporting.
Veerasingham, who has led the organization for five years [1], said the agency is evolving in an interview with Raju Narisetti of McKinsey Global Publishing. She said the AP is utilizing AI to reshape news production while maintaining its core principles of accuracy and trust. The strategy focuses on combining human journalism with machine assistance to scale operations without sacrificing quality.
However, the industry remains divided on the role of these technologies. Some analysts said AI is a powerful tool that allows newsrooms to produce more content faster and cheaper [2]. Others said there is a fundamental misunderstanding in media executive suites regarding the nature of AI, arguing it is not simply a new tool for journalism [3].
These contradictions highlight a broader tension within the field. While some organizations emphasize the benefits of AI for summarizing reports, and transcribing audio [4], other major players have taken a more adversarial approach. For instance, the New York Times has pursued legal action against OpenAI and Microsoft over the use of its content [5].
Veerasingham's approach positions the AP as a bridge between these two extremes. By treating AI as a partner in data delivery rather than just a content generator, the agency aims to secure its relevance in a landscape where algorithms increasingly control how information is distributed and consumed.
“The AP is reimagining itself as both a journalism organization and a data provider.”
The AP's transition suggests a shift in the business model of wire services from purely providing stories to providing the structured data that fuels AI models. By embracing AI as a core part of its infrastructure, the AP is attempting to avoid the obsolescence facing other legacy media companies that view AI solely as a threat to copyright or a replacement for staff.
