Raphael Hernandes
@hernandesraph.bsky.social
3.7K followers 130 following 32 posts
AI Ethics researcher, journalist working on tech, AI, and data. Ex-The Guardian, Folha de S.Paulo. Ethics of AI MPhil at the University of Cambridge. (Ele/dele he/him)
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hernandesraph.bsky.social
This is a symptom of far-right ideas becoming mainstream in the UK.
hernandesraph.bsky.social
New paper out! :)

While there is some great reporting about AI out there, we know that news coverage about this topic is often far from ideal. In this study, we explore the issues journalists face when writing about AI, the tools they use, and potential solutions to improve the content produced.
Screenshot of an academic article titled "AI, journalism, and critical AI literacy: exploring journalists’ perspectives on AI and responsible reporting" by Tomasz Hollanek, Dorian Peters, Eleanor Drage, and Raphael Hernandes, published in AI & Society. The abstract summarizes findings from workshops with journalists and experts, discussing AI literacy needs and proposing educational resources. Keywords include AI, journalism, and AI ethics.
hernandesraph.bsky.social
(On a not-completely-unrelated note: feel free to DM me any tips for dealing with a receding hairline!)
hernandesraph.bsky.social
I plan to continue exploring AI and journalism topics, as Large Language Models increasingly mediate news consumption and synthetic media threaten the information landscape. I'm weirdly glad that I’ll be stressing about this for the next couple of years.
hernandesraph.bsky.social
My journey at the University of Cambridge continues!

I'm excited to share that I'm heading back to school again, this time as a PhD student @camdighum.bsky.social, starting in October. My work will be supported by the generous Harding Distinguished Postgraduate Scholarship.
Scenic view of King's College Chapel, Cambridge, partially framed by lush greenery and trees on a sunny day, with people punting in the middle of the image. Screenshot of a Certificate of Confirmation of Admission from the University of Cambridge, indicating admission of Raphael Henrique Hernandes Vicenti into a PhD (Probationary) in Digital Humanities, full-time, commencing on 01 October 2025 at Selwyn College
hernandesraph.bsky.social
Either way, it skews the reading. Since we’re still accountable for the final product, in some instances, being transparent about use cases at a global level, such as a public-facing company policy, rather than flagging usage as it happens, might be preferable.
hernandesraph.bsky.social
There’s also the issue of perception. A disclaimer like “this headline was written by AI” might be perceived in wildly different ways ---some might dismiss it as garbage, others might assume it’s better than anything a biased human could write.
hernandesraph.bsky.social
As AI becomes more pervasive and embedded in different parts of the workflow, we risk cluttering content and distracting the reader. In some cases, it might feel like disclosing that a text was written in Microsoft Word.
hernandesraph.bsky.social
→ When we talk about AI applied to journalism, transparency is often cited as a must. I agree with that, of course. However, we also need to be strategic about how we apply it. Total transparency along with every single use sounds good in theory but can be impractical, and even counterproductive.
hernandesraph.bsky.social
And that is particularly hard to navigate in a world of under-resourced media where fly-by reporters end up doing a lot of this work. Still, the balance is off.
hernandesraph.bsky.social
I'm under no illusion: a lot of this is awfully boring for most readers. It’s easier to get excited about the new tool than the technical and philosophical discussions around it.
hernandesraph.bsky.social
We need more reporting that explores tech’s impacts, limitations, and provide broader context.
hernandesraph.bsky.social
→ There’s some amazing journalism about AI out there, but overall, we’re doing a bad job. Research shows that coverage is heavily shaped by industry actors in multiple countries. The result? A lot of product launches and how-to pieces that often lack critical perspective.
hernandesraph.bsky.social
I was really proud to speak at an event by The Alan Turing Institute last week about AI and journalism.

A couple of points I made:
hernandesraph.bsky.social
Next week, I'll speak about AI and Journalism at The Alan Turing Institute! If you're interested, details below:

-> How AI is shaping journalism and journalism is shaping AI

Friday 11 April 2025, 17:00| In-person @ The Royal Institution, London
Register: www.turing.ac.uk/events/how-a...
How AI is shaping journalism and journalism is shaping AI
Please note, this is an in-person event which will take place at The Royal Institution of Great Britain 21 Albemarle Street, London W1S 4BS.
www.turing.ac.uk
hernandesraph.bsky.social
I have just found out that electric travel kettles exist and found it amusing.

I can understand having a small kettle, but what about the "travel" bit? Is it in case you travel somewhere where there is electricity, but no proper way to prepare tea?