By Erik P. Bucy and
A labor dispute erupted at The Guardian’s London headquarters in December 2024, with nearly 500 journalists going on strike to protest the proposed sale of the Guardian-owned Observer.
With the newsroom hobbled, the British publication’s management allegedly deployed generative AI tools such as ChatGPT and Claude to suggest headlines and write descriptions of photos for people using screen readers. The National Union of Journalists cried foul, calling this move a clear attempt to undermine collective bargaining.
As media and communication scholars, we saw the outrage over management’s alleged use of AI during the strike — the details of which the outlet’s management has disputed — as more than routine wrangling over adherence to labor law. The incident showed how AI is becoming integrated into daily news work through translation, interview transcription, research, writing and audience analytics. At the same time, the incorporation of AI in newsrooms has raised new worries about accuracy and bias.
