The New Orleans Saints and Minnesota Timberwolves made pledges recently on X. No AI for graphics or illustrations. The sports world applauded. I didn’t.
I understand the instinct. Authenticity matters in the media world. Fans want to feel a human connection to the brands and people they follow. But the blanket rejection of AI as a creative tool doesn’t protect authenticity. It confuses the tool with the output. That confusion gives organizations embracing AI a significant competitive advantage over the ones that don’t.
Let’s start with X. When a post uses AI tools,
Jason Barrett is the Founder and CEO of Barrett Media. The company launched in September 2015 and has provided consulting services to America’s top audio and video brands, while simultaneously covering the media industry at BarrettMedia.com, becoming a daily destination for media professionals. Prior to Barrett Media, Jason built and programmed 95.7 The Game in San Francisco, and 101 ESPN in St. Louis. He was also the first sports programmer for SportsTalk 950 in Philadelphia, which later became 97.5 The Fanatic. Barrett also led 590 The Fan KFNS in St. Louis, and ESPN 1340/1390 in Poughkeepsie, NY, and worked on-air and behind the scenes at 101.5 WPDH, WTBQ 1110AM, and WPYX 106.5. He also spent two years at ESPN Radio in Bristol, CT producing ‘The Dan Patrick Show’ and ‘GameNight’. JB can be reached on Twitter @SportsRadioPD or by email at Jason@BarrettMedia.com.