Ben Smith: Rebuilding News for the AI Era

Ben Smith, co-founder and editor-in-chief of Semafor, shares insights on media transformations from blogs to AI, the future of journalism, and how AI tools are reshaping communication strategies. Having spent his career at the vanguard of media transformations, from the early days of blogging and the rise of Politico to leading the virality era at BuzzFeed, Ben is now navigating the most significant shift yet: rebuilding news for the AI era.In this episode, Ben joins Andrew Bleeker to discuss why AI isn't just another platform adjustment, but an entirely new medium. Togther they explore how newsrooms are using AI to find clarity in a slurry of information and why, in an automated world, trusted human connections and original stories matter more than ever.In this episode:AI as the New Internet: Why Ben believes AI is a qualitative shift in how we communicate, not just a tool for the digital medium.The Tension in Journalism: How news is pulling in two opposite directions: toward total automation and toward intense, creator-led connection.Global Perspectives on Adoption: How attitudes toward AI vary from region to region. The Return of Fragmented Media: Why the 20th-century model of a few central channels was an anomaly, and how we’ve returned to a world of hyper-partisan, human-led influence.The Evolution of Earned Media: Advice for anyone  looking to build their brand with journalists in the AI era.