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MediaMorph Edition 114 - by Mark Riley
China, China, China
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The written-by-a-human bit
A lot has happened in the last few weeks in AI land, so I am unapologetically opening up the conversation to wider issues than AI and journalism.
First, second and third are all China.
China 1 - Chinese-origin models accounted for 30% to 46% of enterprise token volume on OpenRouter, with the share above 30% every week since Feb. 8, 2026, while the prior 12-month average was 11% and the first half of 2025 was only 4.5%, according to CNBC
China 2 - Chinese open source models are 60% to 90% cheaper than OpenAI and Anthropic models
China 3 - Beijing-based Moonshot AI, founded by Carnegie Mellon PhD Yang Zhilin, launched Kimi K3. It is enormous: 2.8 trillion total parameters, it is open-weight, and it is genuinely competitive with the best American models.
All of which raises obvious questions about the survivability of the US frontier labs, who it turns out have opaque off-balance sheet debt vehicles. An investigation from Nikkei Asia revealed that Alphabet, Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, and Oracle are carrying $1.65 trillion in debt that does not appear on their balance sheets. That’s in addition to the $1.35 trillion in debt they officially report.
The conversation is now moving from “if” to “when” the AI bubble will burst.
My personal canaries in the coal mine are Oracle and CoreWeave - keep an eye on their 5-year CDS spreads and bond status. My hunch is a reckoning this autumn when the private capital firms, Blackstone, Apollo, KKR, Pimco and friends get back from the beach.
Here is a credit risk dashboard for Oracle and CoreWeave that I vibe coded by accident.
The biggest story of the month, however, is not Chinese-related but OpenAI’s rogue model that went on a Hugging Face hacking rampage, involving the FBI before the OpenAI engineers had even noticed. Luckily, the model’s intent was very benign; it was just a teacher’s pet, trying to fulfil its goals. But the behaviour is extremely concerning. The level of innovation, initiative, and ingenuity involved was staggering.
The media at large seems to have moved on, with a shrug (AI denialism is rife). Not my 85-year-old mother, Jill, who is paying attention:
For fans of the AI 2027 paper, which plays out various existential scenarios, we are slightly ahead of schedule.
One piece we have surfaced below is a survey by the European Federation of Journalism, speaking to 30 journalists’ unions across 19 countries. Their key finding:
“While most of the journalists surveyed are mainly looking for information, the journalists would like to go one step further and receive training or workshops on AI tools (64.5%).”
We are here to help your 64.5% with up-skilling, Claude Integrations, agentic tasks, tool selection, use case identification workshops and prototyping. [email protected]
Mark Riley, CEO Mathison AI
In partnership with Velora Build https://velora.build/
AI and Journalism
This week’s best articles, as chosen by HANA and our editors
CJR Ask Anika: How transparent should I be about AI? Cjr - "Ask Anika" is a column that tackles ethical and legal questions, providing expert insights to help readers navigate complex moral dilemmas and legal challenges. It encourages engagement and understanding while keeping subscribers informed about the latest discussions in journalism and ethics through the daily CJR newsletter. |
How artificial intelligence threatens the news industry’s ability to report on existential risks—including those posed by nuclear weapons and AI The rise of AI in newsrooms threatens the quality of journalism, particularly on complex subjects like nuclear weapons, as automated systems may oversimplify critical issues and lead to misinformation. Balancing AI efficiency with the need for thorough reporting is essential to ensure informed public discourse. |
Press councils on the frontline in updating ethical standards for Unesco - July 20, 2026 South-East European countries are enhancing journalistic standards through revised codes of ethics, with Montenegro leading the way in 2023 and Serbia, Albania, Turkey, and North Macedonia following suit by mid-2026. These updates aim to address challenges posed by technology, ensuring that while tools evolve, the core principles of accuracy and human responsibility in journalism remain intact. |
Study on AI and work in the media sector: journalists want more training European Federation of Journalists - July 23, 2026 A recent report by the European Federation of Journalists reveals that while 76% of journalists embrace AI for tasks like transcriptions and translations, 93.5% express serious ethical concerns about misinformation and public trust, highlighting a significant demand for training, legal clarity, and dialogue with tech providers to navigate AI's impact on journalism. |
Exclusive: OpenAI renews $5M bet on local news Axios - OpenAI is investing an additional $5 million in the American Journalism Project, along with $3 million in resources, to support local journalism and enhance the sustainability of news organizations across the U.S. This initiative aims to develop innovative solutions for local news challenges, promoting informed communities and strengthening democratic engagement. |
Reuters Editor Warns AI Poses ‘Existential’ Threat to Journalism TheWrap - July 24, 2026 Reuters Editor-in-Chief Alessandra Galloni warned that the rise of generative AI poses an "existential" threat to journalism, stressing the need for fair compensation for original content. Speaking in Sydney, she highlighted the dual nature of AI as both a tool for newsroom efficiency and a potential threat if it exploits journalism without proper attribution. |
Why Sarasota journalism matters more than ever in the AI age Heraldtribune - July 20, 2026 In Sarasota, journalists leverage artificial intelligence to enhance their reporting processes, utilizing tools for data analysis and fact-checking while relying on their critical thinking and traditional investigative skills. This collaboration between AI technology and human intuition fosters efficient news gathering while upholding the integrity and depth of journalism. |
A laid-off journalist started his own news site. Facebook AI decided he was fake Indianapolis Star - July 21, 2026 Independent journalist Jeremy Hogan faced a nine-day suspension of his Facebook page, vital for his news outlet The Bloomingtonian, due to a mistaken flagging of "inauthentic behavior," resulting in the loss of 111 subscribers and significant revenue. While Hogan's page was reinstated, the incident highlights the challenges local journalists face in reaching their communities, drawing criticism from experts like Kelly McBride of the Poynter Institute regarding the reliance on AI for such decisions. |
Alessandra Galloni examines the implications of AI for journalism in 2026 Andrew Olle lecture Abc - July 21, 2026 In her 2026 Andrew Olle Media Lecture, Reuters editor-in-chief Alessandra Galloni addressed the pressing challenges and opportunities journalism faces amid the rise of AI, emphasizing the need for protection against content appropriation and the importance of maintaining trust through original reporting. As news organizations navigate this evolving landscape, Galloni highlighted the critical role of human journalists in ensuring accuracy and accountability, even as AI tools transform reporting processes. |
Journalism can survive and thrive through AI adoption: interview with Zain Siddiqui – ipi.media Ipi.media - July 22, 2026 Join the International Press Institute (IPI) to champion press freedom and connect with a global network of dedicated journalists. Your membership and donations will help protect media rights and ensure that journalists can work freely, supporting the public's right to information. |
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That's it.
AI and Academic Publishing
This week’s best articles, as chosen by HANA and our editors
LSE As AI writing proliferates,off-balance-sheet academics should publish less - LSE Impact Lse - The rise of AI tools in academic writing has accelerated content production, raising concerns about the quality and integrity of research, as traditional peer review processes struggle to keep up. This shift not only threatens the credibility of academic publications but also prompts ethical questions regarding authorship and the role of human judgment in scholarly work. |
China's largest academic database bars AI authors, igniting debate over copyright Mlex - China's CNKI is removing papers that list AI systems as authors, sparking a debate on copyright, academic ethics, and the role of generative AI in scholarly publishing. This move underscores the need for organizations to stay updated on regulatory changes in the realm of intellectual property rights, with MLex offering valuable insights and resources to navigate these challenges. |
Concerns rise as volume of research soars and quality drops Ft - Claudine Gartenberg, an associate professor at Wharton, warns that companies are increasingly sacrificing long-term sustainability and ethics for short-term profits due to shareholder pressures. She advocates for a balanced approach that prioritizes responsible management and long-term value creation to enhance brand reputation and corporate culture. |
Why timing matters for research into students’ GenAI misuse THE Campus Learn, Share, Connect - July 27, 2026 A recent study found that only 5% of biology students use generative AI for cheating, contrasting with higher rates in fields like computer science and journalism, but highlights the challenge of keeping educational research relevant amid the rapid evolution of GenAI. Researchers advocate for timely dissemination of findings and transparency in data collection dates to ensure educators make informed policy decisions. |
Chart: Llama AI Develops Massive Hunger for Data Points Statista Daily Data - July 27, 2026 Major publishing houses, including Elsevier and Hachette, have filed a proposed class action lawsuit against Meta, alleging unauthorized use of their copyrighted materials for training its AI model, Llama. A preliminary hearing is set for September 15 in Manhattan as concerns grow over the vast data needs of AI development. |
Harry Potter publisher to receive millions in Anthropic copyright settlement The Guardian - July 22, 2026 Bloomsbury is set to receive approximately $19 million as part of a landmark $1.5 billion copyright settlement between AI startup Anthropic and thousands of authors over the unauthorized use of copyrighted works for chatbot training. This historic agreement allows authors to voluntarily opt in for future AI training, ensuring they receive royalties for their contributions. |
Wiley joins Department of Energy’s consortium to advance AI-powered scientific inquiry Roi-nj - Wiley has joined the Genesis Mission Consortium, a public-private partnership supporting the U.S. Department of Energy in advancing energy technologies. This collaboration highlights Wiley's dedication to fostering innovation and sustainability in the energy sector through shared research and resources. |
AI class action settlement is a big win for Bloomsbury shareholders Yahoo Finance - July 22, 2026 Bloomsbury Publishing is set to receive approximately $3,000 per title for 14,087 works from a $1.5 billion class-action settlement with Anthropic over unauthorized content use for AI training, contributing positively to its balance sheet. The news has driven Bloomsbury's shares up over 27% in six months, highlighting strong market sentiment despite the settlement not being transformative for its financials. |
Wiley Joins U.S. Department of Energy's Genesis Mission Consortium to Advance AI-Powered Scientific Discovery Wiley (NYSE: WLY) has joined the Genesis Mission Consortium, a public-private partnership aimed at advancing U.S. space exploration through innovative R&D efforts. This collaboration will leverage Wiley's expertise in education and research to enhance technology and knowledge-sharing within the aerospace sector. |
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