AI in the Newsroom: Lessons from the Adoption of The Globe and Mail’s Sophi

This case study examines the relationship between artificial intelligence (AI) and journalistic values through an analysis of Sophi, an algorithmic recommendation engine developed by The Globe and Mail in Canada. As AI becomes more prevalent in newsrooms, there are debates ranging from concerns about journalist displacement to hopes for improved quality and economic sustainability. The study explores how Sophi’s development, adoption, and reception showcase the interaction between technological capabilities and journalistic values. By analysing Sophi’s implementation across various international news publishers, we investigate the conditions that foster the adoption of AI systems in journalism and the implications for future AI design and deployment within newsrooms. Our findings suggest that successful AI integration in journalism requires careful attention to organisational context, scope of automation and institutional origins. The story of Sophi highlights the need for a more granular investigation into how different news outlets balance economic imperatives with journalistic values when adopting AI technologies.