Title: Drew Harwell, technology reporter, speaks to Poynter about AI and its role in society and the newsroom URL Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/pr/2024/03/06/drew-harwell-technology-reporter-speaks-poynter-about-ai-its-role-society-newsroom/ Published Time: 2024-07-02T14:44:29.112Z Markdown Content: [Accessibility statement](https://www.washingtonpost.com/accessibility/)[Skip to main content](https://www.washingtonpost.com/pr/2024/03/06/drew-harwell-technology-reporter-speaks-poynter-about-ai-its-role-society-newsroom/#main-content) [Democracy Dies in Darkness](https://www.washingtonpost.com/) [Save and subscribe](https://subscribe.washingtonpost.com/acquisition/?oscode=RPWH&s_l=ONSITE_HEADER_ARTICLE&p=s_v&s_ct=article&itid=nav_subscribe_logged_out&tid=nav_subscribe_logged_out&acqEntType=mktg_onsite_article&destination=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fpr%2F2024%2F03%2F06%2Fdrew-harwell-technology-reporter-speaks-poynter-about-ai-its-role-society-newsroom%2F&arcId=Z4XTF2ZVU5C2PCQDSSLJPQVZ6E)[Sign in](https://www.washingtonpost.com/subscribe/signin/?next_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fpr%2F2024%2F03%2F06%2Fdrew-harwell-technology-reporter-speaks-poynter-about-ai-its-role-society-newsroom%2F&nid=top_pb_signin&arcId=Z4XTF2ZVU5C2PCQDSSLJPQVZ6E&account_location=ONSITE_HEADER_ARTICLE&itid=nav_sign_in) Democracy Dies in Darkness [WashPost PR Blog](https://www.washingtonpost.com/pr/?itid=sn_washpost%20pr%20blog_title)[Public Relations](https://www.washingtonpost.com/public-relations/?itid=sn_washpost%20pr%20blog_1/)[Press Releases](https://www.washingtonpost.com/public-relations/press-releases/)[Audience & Traffic](https://www.washingtonpost.com/public-relations/audience-traffic/)[Awards](https://www.washingtonpost.com/public-relations/awards/)[Events](https://www.washingtonpost.com/public-relations/events/)[Staff News](https://www.washingtonpost.com/public-relations/staff-news/)[In the News](https://www.washingtonpost.com/public-relations/in-the-news/)[Arc](https://www.washingtonpost.com/public-relations/arc-publishing/?itid=sn_washpost%20pr%20blog_8/) [WashPost PR Blog](https://www.washingtonpost.com/pr/?itid=sn_washpost%20pr%20blog_title)[Public Relations](https://www.washingtonpost.com/public-relations/?itid=sn_washpost%20pr%20blog_1/)[Press Releases](https://www.washingtonpost.com/public-relations/press-releases/)[Audience & Traffic](https://www.washingtonpost.com/public-relations/audience-traffic/)[Awards](https://www.washingtonpost.com/public-relations/awards/)[Events](https://www.washingtonpost.com/public-relations/events/)[Staff News](https://www.washingtonpost.com/public-relations/staff-news/)[In the News](https://www.washingtonpost.com/public-relations/in-the-news/)[Arc](https://www.washingtonpost.com/public-relations/arc-publishing/?itid=sn_washpost%20pr%20blog_8/) # Drew Harwell, technology reporter, speaks to Poynter about AI and its role in society and the newsroom March 6, 2024 More than**2 years ago** 2 [Make us preferred on Google](https://www.google.com/preferences/source?q=washingtonpost.com) ![Image 1](https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://arc-anglerfish-washpost-prod-washpost.s3.amazonaws.com/public/IAELXYAE7II6RKTB6M4RG44GPY.jpg&w=440%20400w) Harwell has covered the burgeoning AI industry for over six years. (Bill O’Leary/The Washington Post) By WashPostPR ## The Post’s widespread and in-depth coverage of AI and its growing role in our society has been helmed by the talented reporters on our Tech team. Technology reporter Drew Harwell spoke to Poynter about his six years covering AI and the influence of algorithms on daily life: _Artificial intelligence has become a buzz phrase in newsrooms over the past year as everyone from top executives to beat reporters grapple with the implications of the advancing technology. But while some tout it as the savior of journalism and others view it as the beginning of the end, Washington Post reporter Drew Harwell takes a more measured approach._ Subscribe for unlimited access to The Post Save on unmatched reporting. [**Get your first year for $2 every four weeks**](https://subscribe.washingtonpost.com/acquisition/?p=s_v&s_l=ONSITE_ARTICLE_MODULE&e=PREVIEW-CHOOSE-PLAN) _“I say it’s like a karaoke machine — it can be used for good and evil.”_ _Harwell, who covers AI and the influence of algorithms on daily life, has watched the technology rapidly accelerate in the six years he’s been on the beat. But he can also see its flaws, the “seams.” In a conversation with MediaWise director Alex Mahadevan at Poynter’s annual meeting with its advisory board late February, Harwell encouraged journalists to familiarize themselves with the technology._ _“I think it’s worth all of us as journalists, people who care about journalism, to really use these tools because this stuff is taking away that vector of understanding in terms of audio, video, imagery,” Harwell said. “You can’t trust your eyes anymore when you look at this stuff because it’s so lifelike.”_ _Read more from the_[_interview_](https://www.poynter.org/tech-tools/2024/artificial-intelligence-journalism-washington-post/)_._ * * * 2**Comments** ![Image 2](https://palomaimages.washingtonpost.com/prod/512x288_TodaysHeadlines_tstmp_1623893120.jpg) Newsletter Daily ![Image 3](https://palomaimages.washingtonpost.com/prod/512x288_TodaysHeadlines_tstmp_1623893120.jpg) Today’s Headlines The most important news stories of the day, curated by Post editors, delivered every morning. 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