Key Takeaways:
- Australian journalism is largely "invisible" in AI-generated news summaries from Microsoft Copilot, with only one-fifth of responses featuring links to Australian media sources.
- The increasing use of AI-generated news summaries poses a threat to Australian media outlets’ financial viability and may lead to more news deserts, fewer independent voices, and a weakened democracy.
- Researcher Dr. Timothy Koskie suggests extending the news media bargaining incentive remit to consider AI tools and incentivizing AI companies to embed geographical location in their coding design.
- The use of AI-generated news summaries may reinforce dominant international sources, sideline independent and regional media, and erase the human labor behind journalism itself.
Introduction to the Issue
The use of AI-generated news summaries has become increasingly popular, with Microsoft Copilot being one of the most widely used tools. However, research by the University of Sydney has found that Australian journalism is largely "invisible" in these summaries, with only one-fifth of responses featuring links to Australian media sources. This is a concerning trend, as it may lead to more news deserts, fewer independent voices, and a weakened democracy. As Dr. Timothy Koskie, a postdoctoral research associate in digital communication, notes, "The Australian media ecosystem is already struggling with concentrated ownership, declining independent outlets, and news deserts in regional areas."
The Research Findings
Dr. Koskie’s analysis of 434 AI-generated news summaries revealed that non-Australian sources such as CNN, BBC, and ABC America were introduced despite the user being located in Australia. He found that "the technology basically sidelined Australian news" and that when Australian sources were used, they were usually big players like Nine and the ABC, and not smaller, independent media. As he told Guardian Australia, "No [local] journalist was ever mentioned." This is a significant concern, as local journalists and independent media play a crucial role in holding those in power accountable and providing diverse perspectives.
The Impact on Australian Media
The increasing use of AI-generated news summaries poses a significant threat to Australian media outlets’ financial viability. When users receive AI summaries without clicking through to the original news website, they starve news outlets of web traffic and revenue. As Dr. Koskie notes, "Australians are invisible in this. In international studies, what people trust is the local news. And so we have this issue of declining trust in media, and the media that they’re being exposed to through these new platforms is not the one that people trust, which is local." This is a worrying trend, as local news is essential for a healthy democracy.
The Need for Policy Mechanisms
To address this issue, Dr. Koskie suggests extending the news media bargaining incentive remit to consider AI tools and incentivizing AI companies to embed geographical location in their coding design. As he notes, "While Copilot may offer a sleek, automated gateway to news, this study highlights its tendencies to reinforce dominant international sources, sideline independent and regional media, and erase the human labor behind journalism itself." The development of policy mechanisms such as the news media bargaining code is essential to help journalism thrive in the age of AI-generated news summaries.
The Future of Journalism
The use of AI-generated news summaries is likely to continue to grow, and it is essential that we address the concerns surrounding this technology. As the Reuters Institute’s predictions for media, journalism, and technology in 2026 note, "generative AI threatens to upend the news industry by offering more efficient ways of accessing and distilling information at scale." However, this also raises fears that referral traffic for publishers could dry up, undermining existing and future business models. As Dr. Koskie warns, "If left unchecked, such tools risk compounding Australia’s existing media pluralism challenges rather than alleviating them." It is crucial that we take action to address these concerns and ensure that Australian journalism remains visible and thriving in the age of AI-generated news summaries.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the research by Dr. Timothy Koskie highlights the need for urgent attention to the impact of AI-generated news summaries on Australian journalism. The findings of the study are concerning, and it is essential that we take action to address the concerns surrounding this technology. As Dr. Koskie notes, "The technology is just reproducing crises that we didn’t properly attend to before." It is crucial that we develop policy mechanisms to help journalism thrive in the age of AI-generated news summaries and ensure that Australian journalism remains visible and thriving. By doing so, we can ensure that our democracy remains strong and that our media ecosystem remains diverse and vibrant.
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2026/jan/25/ai-generated-news-summaries-microsoft-copilot-australian-journalism
