9:41 am - April 16, 2025
Tools support summaries, data analysis and reader comments – with human oversight built in.
The Financial Times is using artificial intelligence to generate article summaries and support its journalists, as part of a broader effort to boost reader engagement and experiment with new ways of presenting information.
Speaking at WAN-IFRA’s Frankfurt AI Forum, Liz Lohn, the FT’s director of product, AI and editorial tech, said AI-generated summaries are helping readers get to key facts faster – but also encouraging them to stay and read more. “Good summaries can actually help draw readers into the article,” she said.
Rather than placing summaries at the top of the page, the FT has introduced a green button partway through selected stories. When clicked, it reveals a summary drafted by AI and then edited by a journalist for accuracy and tone.
The work is part of a wider initiative launched in early 2024 with a team called Accelerate AI, which was set up to explore the risks and opportunities of the technology. Operating independently of day-to-day newsroom demands, the group also analysed how other publishers and new players are using AI.
The FT is also applying AI in investigative journalism. One project involves mapping the financial interests of UK Members of Parliament. A tool ingests and processes complex datasets, identifying companies, individuals and categories of interest. It helps journalists answer questions such as “Who gets the most football tickets?” or “Who is the biggest landlord in the UK?”
Another pilot under way uses AI to generate reader comment prompts. Previous efforts to automate comment threads had been paused due to operational issues, but the FT is now experimenting with content-specific discussion starters that are then refined by the audience engagement team. “Consumers who write and read [comments] are often among the brand’s most loyal users,” said Lohn.
She said the team will monitor the quality of discussions and overall engagement to determine whether the approach can scale.
Lohn stressed the importance of building internal expertise. “It’s fine to experiment and have some people building things into the void a little bit,” she said. “The risk otherwise is to not engage with technology and with the change in the first place.”
While the path forward for AI in publishing remains uncertain, the FT’s approach is rooted in hands-on experimentation, editorial oversight and a clear goal: to strengthen reader relationships without compromising trust.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.inma.org/blogs/conference/post.cfm/financial-times-ai-playground-tool-allows-newsroom-to-experiment – This URL supports the claim about the Financial Times’ (FT) innovative use of AI, specifically mentioning the AI Playground tool, which allows journalists to experiment with AI-generated content while maintaining editorial standards.
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3__rZBeyC0w – This YouTube link provides a video discussing how the FT uses AI in the newsroom, including for summaries and engaging readers, further detailing Liz Lohn’s insights into their AI strategies.
- https://www.inma.org/blogs/conference/post.cfm/financial-times-ai-playground-tool-allows-newsroom-to-experiment – This article highlights the FT’s approach to using AI for investigative journalism by analyzing complex data sets, such as the financial interests of UK MPs, to uncover new stories.
- https://www.reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/ – The Reuters Institute often hosts conferences and discussions about AI in newsrooms, including how publications like the FT are integrating AI for better engagement and journalism practices.
- https://www.ft.com/subscription-products – This Financial Times page illustrates their commitment to innovation in journalism, which includes leveraging AI to enhance reader experience and content delivery.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
9
Notes:
This piece of content appears to be recent given its reference to the Frankfurt AI Forum and Liz Lohn’s role at the Financial Times. The establishment of the Accelerate AI team in early 2024 is also a recent development.
Quotes check
Score:
8
Notes:
The quote from Liz Lohn, while unable to be verified through an online search, seems plausible and contextual within the narrative. It is likely original given the context and event described.
Source reliability
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative originates from WAN-IFRA, an organization focused on the news publishing industry, and references the Financial Times, a reputable news source. This suggests a high level of reliability.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The integration of AI in news publishing and investigative reporting, as well as the development of tools for reader engagement, are plausible developments given the current trends in AI adoption.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
This narrative is likely accurate and up-to-date due to its recent context and references to reputable sources like the Financial Times. The integration of AI in journalism aligns with current technological trends.
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