In a bold and unprecedented experiment, the Italian daily newspaper Il Foglio has taken a leap into the future of journalism, publishing what it claims to be the world’s first newspaper edition generated entirely by artificial intelligence.
Titled Il Foglio AI, the special four-page supplement was released both in print and online in March 2025, sparking conversation across the global media landscape. For a publication known for its sharp editorials and intellectual tone, the move signals a willingness to explore not only cutting-edge tools, but also the potential—and pitfalls—of AI in the newsroom.
Journalism Meets the Machine
The project was simple in structure but complex in implication. Human journalists posed questions, curated topics, and then stepped aside, allowing AI models to generate every word, headline, and editorial. The AI’s writing portfolio ranged from political analysis to cultural commentary, including standout features like a deep-dive into U.S. President Donald Trump and a provocative editorial titled “Putin’s 10 Betrayals.”
In total, the AI wrote around 22 articles and three editorials. Remarkably, the output wasn’t just technically competent—it carried a surprising level of stylistic flair, even managing to infuse subtle irony into its prose.
Strengths and Stumbles
While the experiment showcased the fluency and clarity of modern language models, it also exposed their limitations. Articles lacked one essential ingredient: human voices. No interviews, no firsthand accounts, no real quotes. And though much of the writing passed as publishable, a few pieces contained factual inaccuracies. In one instance, an article about “situationships” closely mimicked content from an earlier Atlantic piece, raising concerns about plagiarism and originality.
These issues weren’t brushed aside. The Il Foglio editorial team actively reviewed, corrected, and fact-checked the content before it reached readers—highlighting that while AI can generate, human oversight remains non-negotiable.
A Stress Test, Not a Surrender
Editor-in-chief Claudio Cerasa was quick to clarify the purpose of the project: this was never about replacing journalists. “It was a stress test,” he explained. A pressure point experiment to see how AI could function in a traditional editorial workflow.
Cerasa believes the real challenge for journalists isn’t competing with machines on speed or grammar. Instead, it’s about doing what AI cannot: crafting original stories, engaging with people, uncovering nuance, and telling the human side of events. In an age where AI can mimic form, it’s the substance that will differentiate great journalism from synthetic content.
The Road Ahead
Il Foglio AI might be the first of its kind, but it won’t be the last. As AI tools continue to evolve, more newsrooms will experiment with automation and augmentation. The big question isn’t whether AI belongs in journalism, but rather: how do we ensure it serves the truth?
At Slviki.org, we’ll be watching closely—and critically—as the future of media unfolds.