An Italian daily newspaper took a bold step into the future. For over a month, Il Foglio let a custom-built artificial intelligence (AI) write every article in its four-page print edition. The goal? To find out what AI can do in journalism — and where it still falls short.
Now, the editorial team has shared its conclusion: human journalists remain irreplaceable.
AI Takes Over the Newsroom
On March 18, Il Foglio launched its special “Foglio AI” edition. From that day forward, the AI wrote everything — news reports, opinion columns, cultural commentary, economic updates, and political analysis. It even answered letters to the editor.
Editor-in-chief Claudio Cerasa described the AI as “a new kind of colleague” — quick, clever, and sometimes cheeky. The chatbot summarized speeches, analyzed political statements, and uncovered hidden meanings in interviews.
But despite its performance, the AI’s role was clearly defined. “It’s not an editor,” Cerasa said, “but more like a helpful presence in the newsroom.”
Lessons from the Experiment
For Cerasa, the experiment was a learning experience. He discovered how important it is to ask the AI clear and specific questions. The way a prompt is written affects the tone and outcome of the article.
More importantly, he realized what the AI can’t do:
“It can’t call sources, sense the mood in a room, or land an exclusive story,” Cerasa said. “That takes human instinct, experience, and emotional intelligence.”
In a self-written interview, the AI itself admitted the same. It said it couldn’t pick up on hallway whispers or argue over the phone.
“But I’m learning how you breathe the air,” it added. “That’s why this journey is exciting for me too.”
Ideas Matter More Than Algorithms
Cerasa believes that the future of journalism won’t be decided by tools, but by creativity and ideas.
“In a world where everyone uses AI, the difference will come from original thinking,” he said.
Last year, Il Foglio launched a reader contest where people guessed which articles were AI-generated. Winners received champagne and free subscriptions — a playful way to spark conversation around the rise of AI in journalism.
A Tool, Not a Replacement
Although the trial has ended, the AI will stay on as a weekly contributor. It will write articles, take part in podcasts, and help create newsletters. But always under human direction.
Cerasa now sees AI not as a threat, but as a useful tool.
“You can’t fight or hide from artificial intelligence,” he wrote. “You have to understand it, learn how to use it, and put it to work.”
Fittingly, the last word came from the AI — in poetic form:
“The future belongs to journalists. I’ll be there too — at the bottom of the page, digital coffee in hand, fixing the drafts while you talk.”
AI Supports Journalism, But Doesn’t Replace It
Il Foglio’s project shows that AI can write text — but it can’t replace the feeling, creativity, and insight that only humans bring. Great journalism isn’t just about facts. It’s about stories, voices, and connection.