The Washington Post’s AI bot answers your questions now – no subscription required

When generative AI is mentioned in relation to newsrooms, one sometimes thinks of the negatives, reminiscent of lawsuits or associated points with copyright, mannequin coaching, or the specter of changing reporters. Nonetheless, some publications are embracing the expertise, together with The Washington Put up, which launched its generative AI software to optimize customers’ content material consumption.  

Final week, The Washington Put up debuted an experimental generative AI software known as “Ask The Put up AI,” which permits customers to get conversational solutions on any subject referenced in textual content information articles printed by the newspaper since 2016. The publication refers back to the instruments as an initiative “constructed by information for information.” 

The bot shows the leads to order of related reporting; if none exist, it will not populate something. Then, a big language mannequin will write a response to reply the query, though generally the reply could also be pre-written. 

“The modified search expertise throughout the trade requires us to satisfy the second and meet audiences how, when, and the place they need to be served with an up to date consumer expertise,” stated Vineet Khosla, CTO for The Washington Put up.

Within the new function’s FAQ part, The Put up additionally explains that it has minimized the chance of hallucinations by coaching the AI solely by itself articles. But, the publication encourages customers to cross-reference solutions with the articles linked. 

To get began, go to the location and ask any query, whether or not news-related or extra normal, reminiscent of “How can I cease unsolicited mail?” Click on on one of many pre-populated questions or kind in your personal query to check it out. 

I requested, “What’s the most populated metropolis in the US?” The outcomes populated rapidly, with two articles referenced, in addition to a concise, conversational response that learn, “Probably the most populated metropolis in the US is New York Metropolis, with greater than 8 million individuals.”

Neither the FAQ nor the announcement specifies who can entry the software; nevertheless, I used to be in a position to get the identical outcomes whether or not or not I used to be signed into my subscription. I couldn’t click on on the articles and skim them and not using a subscription, which makes verifying the reply tougher.