Key Takeaways
- Oor News, a Scots language news website, uses AI for article writing and imagery.
- Founder MacDonald aims to represent diverse Scots dialects while facing criticism for AI-generated content.
- Concerns about AI’s impact on creative jobs and authenticity in journalism persist within the Scots-speaking community.
Oor News, launched by MacDonald, a native Doric speaker from the North East of Scotland, aims to provide a vital platform for Scots speakers, who currently lack major news outlets in their language. As MacDonald explains, due to funding issues, there is a shortage of human reporters writing in Scots. To address this, he employs AI to draft articles in English, which he then translates into three Scots dialects—’Staundart’, ‘Nor East’, and ‘Nordern Isles’.
The site utilizes AI both for article composition and image generation, streamlining the writing process. MacDonald produces about three to four articles weekly, hoping to reduce writing time with AI assistance. While he acknowledges concerns from creatives about AI’s impact, he emphasizes that the model aims to enhance, rather than replace, human input.
Although Oor News has garnered interest, it has also faced criticism. Some creatives argue that AI-generated content detracts from the authenticity and originality needed in Scots journalism. Emma Grae, a prominent Scots author, contends that true Scots-language news should come from native speakers, expressing concern that AI risks reducing the quality of Scots literature and journalism to mere rehashed content.
In response to critics, MacDonald insists that the current focus is on providing news, not substituting creative works such as poetry or fiction. He expresses a desire for future generations of Scots speakers to connect more deeply with their language, even envisioning a scenario where technology allows full integration of Scots into digital communication.
This conversation about AI’s role in Scots extends to Abertay University’s research into AI-generated voice recordings, led by psychologist Neil Kirk. His findings indicate that while AI can effectively mimic Scots dialects, public perception of these voices varies significantly. Misunderstandings about AI’s capabilities could pose risks, especially in voice-based scams targeting minority language communities.
The broader implications of AI in creative sectors have raised alarms among various stakeholders, highlighting potential declines in job opportunities and income for artists. A spokesperson from the Society of Authors has expressed concerns that generative AI threatens the livelihoods of creators by enabling cheaper, derivative works that may undermine original contributions.
As the discourse on AI evolves, voices in the Scots community are divided. The debate encapsulates both the potential benefits of AI in promoting language use and the risks of replacing human creativity with machine-generated content. The future of Scots journalism lies in finding a balance that honors the language’s rich heritage while embracing technological advancement.
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