After months of questions about how CNET uses artificial intelligence tools, for a long time CNET Editor-in-chief Connie Guglielmo is stepping down and taking on a new job: senior vice president of AI content strategy and managing editor, according to a draft internal memo circulated today, a copy of which was obtained by the edge.
In his new role, Guglielmo will work on machine learning strategy at Red Ventures, the private equity-backed media firm that acquired the tech news site in 2020. Adam Auriemma, former editor-in-chief of another Red Ventures outlet, NextAdvisorwill become editor-in-chief. NextAdvisora personal finance outlet, appears to be no longer active: the site’s Twitter account hasn’t been posted since January, it’s no longer listed on Red Ventures’ brand list, and its website redirects to CNET.
Guglielmo’s switch to his AI role comes just hours later the edge reported that mass layoffs were taking place in CNET. At least a dozen employees have lost their jobs, including some longtime front men at the company, according to sources with knowledge of the layoffs. The full extent of the layoffs is still unclear as staff work to determine which colleagues are affected; the number could reach 26 or more, the sources say.
After futurism revealed in January that CNET had been quietly publishing dozens of AI-generated papers, Guglielmo and other Red Ventures leaders defended the use of automation tools despite public concern about how the practice was implemented. Use of the tool was temporarily halted while Red Ventures conducted an internal audit of all AI-generated content on its sites. Soon after, more than half of the articles were updated with fixes.
Guglielmo, who has been CNET editor-in-chief for nine years, has championed the use of AI tools in the medium. In late January, he said in a blog post that even if the AI-generated stories stopped, the newsroom would continue to test AI tools that “would help [CNET’s] equipment.”
multiple shaper CNET the staff said the edge that editorial independence was undermined under Guglielmo’s leadership and ownership by Red Ventures. Past staff recounted several instances of employees being pressured to change their job to appease advertisers, and other team members being repeatedly asked to work on ads and prioritize work that served marketing purposes and featured prominently in Google search.
The latest round of layoffs is far from the first: ex CNET the staff said the edge that some teams have been decimated by previous workforce cuts, while other staff members have been displaced over time.
Red Ventures did not immediately respond to the edgerequest for comments.
