AI-Personalized News: Do Readers Really Want It?

Introduction

In an era where news consumption habits are constantly evolving, the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into news personalization has become a hot topic. Many news outlets have been leveraging AI to tailor news recommendations for years. However, the advent of generative AI introduces a new dimension: the personalization of news formats. This blog post explores the current landscape of AI-personalized news, its potential benefits, and the crucial question of whether readers truly desire these innovations.

The Rise of AI in News Personalization

Newsrooms are increasingly turning to generative AI not just for efficiency in backend tasks, but also to deliver news that is more personally relevant and accessible to audiences. This trend comes at a time when news interest has waned, and news avoidance has become more prevalent in many countries. While AI has long assisted in personalizing news selection, the significant shift now is its ability to personalize news formats.

How AI is Changing News Formats

Several news organizations are experimenting with AI tools that allow for dynamic changes in how news is presented:

• Summarization: Outlets like Aftonbladet in Sweden offer tools to automatically summarize news articles, providing readers with quick overviews.
• Text-to-Audio Conversion: The Miami Herald in the U.S. is exploring options to convert news text into audio, catering to those who prefer listening over reading.
• Enhanced Analysis: Argentinian newspaper Clarín utilizes UalterAI to provide additional analyses, including key quotes, figures, and glossaries for technical terms.
• Query-Based Information Retrieval: Newspapers such as The Washington Post are trialing tools that can answer complex queries based on their extensive archives.

These experiments are expected to continue, with a significant number of newsroom leaders anticipating the use of AI to improve recommendations, summarization, translation, and the use of AI chatbots in the coming year.

Reader Interest: A Crucial Factor

Despite the enthusiasm within newsrooms, the success of these AI-powered tools hinges on audience adoption. Recent surveys, such as the Reuters Institute’s Digital News Report 2025, shed light on reader interest in AI-powered personalization.

Key Findings on Reader Preferences

• Overall Low Interest: Interest in any single AI-powered personalization option remains relatively low (below 30%) across 48 surveyed countries.
• Preference for Efficiency: Interest is highest for options that make news consumption more efficient or relevant. Summaries (27%) and translations (24%) are at the top, followed by customized news homepages, story recommendations, and news alerts (21% each).
• Lower Interest in Format Conversion: Surprisingly, audience interest is lowest in format conversion options like text-to-audio, despite these being high on newsrooms' implementation priorities.
• Regional and Demographic Differences: Interest in AI personalization varies significantly by country and age group. Younger audiences (under 35) show higher receptivity, particularly for personalized news formats and AI chatbots. Countries with less skepticism towards AI in journalism, such as India and Thailand, show higher interest compared to countries like the U.K. and Germany.

Challenges and Future Outlook

The noticeable gap between newsroom priorities and audience interest suggests that news organizations need to closely monitor what truly creates value for their readers. While a lack of expressed interest doesn't necessarily mean a complete rejection, it highlights the need for better communication and understanding of the benefits of these new tools.

Newsrooms may find more success by offering a selection of AI-personalization options that users can choose from, rather than imposing a one-size-fits-all solution. Tailoring initiatives to specific demographics and regional preferences will also be crucial for broader adoption.

Conclusion

AI-personalized news is rapidly evolving, offering exciting possibilities for enhancing news consumption. However, the ultimate success of these innovations depends on understanding and meeting reader demands. By focusing on efficiency, relevance, and offering diverse options, news organizations can bridge the gap between technological advancement and audience acceptance, ensuring that AI truly serves the reader in the evolving media landscape.