Journalism the answer to AI ‘age of abundance’: panel

Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing the existing publishing and advertising models, with many businesses scrambling to adapt or die.

But, as Phil Sim, CEO of Mediaconnect Group, explained during a panel on AI and publishing in Sydney on Thursday evening, the fundamental change for publishers had already come with Google Ads and SEO (Search Engine Optimisation). Sim argued that marketers and publishers alike betrayed their own principles and the disruption of of artificial intelligence holds possibilities for both industries to get back on track.

“I’m not crying, because I feel SEO made irrefutable damage to media,” he told the audience of a panel named ‘Publishing, AI and Safeguarding the Fourth Estate’, hosted by Innovation Aus. He was joined by Justin Hendry, editor of Innovation Aus, and Corrie McLeod, Innovation Aus publisher, and director at the National Press Club.