A journalist highlighted by the *Wall Street Journal* is known for inputting press releases and analyst notes into AI tools to generate articles that he can quickly edit and publish. AI-assisted stories contributed to nearly 20% of *Fortune*’s web traffic in the latter half of 2025, with a significant portion written by Nick Lichtenberg, a 42-year-old who has authored over 600 AI-assisted articles, outpacing his colleagues’ output at Fortune.
Lichtenberg’s process involves initiating story drafts through tools like Perplexity and Google’s NotebookLM based on provided prompts. He then refines these drafts in a content management system before releasing them to Fortune’s audience. Despite vetting his stories like traditional journalists by cross-referencing sources and seeking comments from relevant parties, Lichtenberg acknowledges his method lacks the thoroughness of magazine fact-checkers.
Initially crediting his work to “Fortune Intelligence,” Lichtenberg now predominantly attaches his name to the articles due to his perceived ownership of the content. The article questions whether Lichtenberg serves as an indicator for the media industry’s future direction, given the increasing reliance on AI-generated content online.
A study by the University of Maryland revealed that approximately 9% of newly published newspaper pieces in 2025 were either partially or entirely AI-generated. Moreover, research from Graphite indicated that AI-produced articles surpassed those created by humans on the internet by late 2024.
While some industry figures express concerns about AI’s potential negative impact, others like Chris Quinn from Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer view AI tools as beneficial for managing journalism challenges. These tools aid in covering overlooked areas by extracting data from local sources and providing leads to reporters, freeing up journalists to focus on investigative work.
Despite the benefits, there are instances where newsrooms have introduced AI tools resulting in errors or public relations issues. For instance, a study conducted by the European Broadcasting Union and the BBC uncovered significant flaws in almost half of the AI responses evaluated for news integrity.
In light of recent incidents involving potential AI-driven plagiarism at major publications such as The New York Times, skepticism persists regarding AI’s role in journalism. Independent journalists caution against embracing AI without reservation, emphasizing the importance of human judgment and expertise in maintaining journalistic integrity.
The emergence of roles like the “AI-Assisted Reporter” at *USA Today* signals a shift towards integrating AI into newsroom operations. Similarly, Google’s sponsorship of a “publishing innovation award” underscores ongoing efforts to explore how AI can enhance journalistic practices while raising questions about its ethical implications.