AI Resource: Sample language to include in AI use disclosures

Published on July 30, 2025September 15, 2025 by Lynn Walsh | Reading Time: 9 minutes

Research shows news consumers want to know when AI was used in news. When asked what they want to know, our follow-up research demonstrates people are particularly interested in understanding if a human was involved in the process and how journalists still make sure their content is accurate and ethical.

Along with partner journalists, Trusting News has been testing AI use transparency language with news consumers. From our experiments and research, we have developed suggested language for transparently disclosing AI use in news.

In this resource, we have sample language for the following:

1. Describing AI
2. Describing type of AI use: transcription, investigations/data analysis, writing content, translating content, summarizing content, photo/video editing or creation
3. Describing human review and accuracy/ethical adherence
4. Describing why you use AI: for efficiency, to do more, to reach more people

We are sharing this language below so it can be copied, personalized and used in your AI use disclosures and transparency work.

Not sure where to even start with a disclosure? Use this step-by-step worksheet to help build a disclosure.

For more resources on how to build trust with your use of AI, review our AI Trust Kit. See more examples of how newsrooms are using AI and disclosing that use here.

Trusting News AI Disclosure Template:

Since 2016, Trusting News has been developing strategies focused on transparency, including what language works best when explaining reporting goals, mission and process. Based on that work and on our AI research, we have created a Mad-lib style recommendation of what to include in a disclosure about your use of AI:

In this story, we used (AI/tool/description of tool) to help us (what AI/the tool did or helped you do). When using (AI/tool), we (fact-checked/made sure it met our ethical/accuracy standards) and (had a human check/review). Using this allowed us to (do more of x, go more in depth, provide content on more platforms, etc). Learn more about our approach to using AI (link to AI policy/AI ethics).

For each piece of content that AI technology contributed to, replace the phrases in parentheses with whatever is appropriate. The language options below will help you.

Ways to describe Artificial Intelligence

When it comes to informing news consumers about your use of AI, the precise wording or specific terminology you use to describe the technology makes little difference in audience perceptions. In our experiments, we have used the following language:

• Artificial Intelligence
• AI
• Automated tool
• Technology
• An AI tool
• An Artificial Intelligence tool
• Name the tool/tech (such as Otter.ai)

Describing type of AI use: What Artificial Intelligence was used to do

Transcription:

• We used Artificial Intelligence to transcribe interviews used for this story.
• We used Artificial Intelligence to transcribe the audio from our interviews with sources.
• We utilized Artificial Intelligence to convert the audio from our interviews with sources into text.
• Our interviews with sources were transcribed using Artificial Intelligence.
• Artificial Intelligence technology was used to transcribe the audio from our interviews with sources.
• The audio from our interviews with sources was transcribed with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
• We applied Artificial Intelligence to transcribe the audio from interviews with our sources.
• Artificial Intelligence assisted us in transcribing the audio from our interviews with sources.
• We relied on Artificial Intelligence to transcribe the audio from our interviews with sources.

Investigations/Data Analysis:

• In this story, we used Artificial Intelligence to help us analyze the public records we received from the state.
• Artificial Intelligence helped us analyze the public records for this story.
• Artificial Intelligence helped us analyze the data used in this story.
• We used Artificial Intelligence to aid in the analysis of public records for this investigative story.
• To dig deeper into the public records received from the state, we used Artificial Intelligence in our analysis.
• This story was made possible with the help of Artificial Intelligence, which we used to analyze the public records we obtained from the state.
• In this investigative story, we used Artificial Intelligence to assist in the analysis of the public records received from the state.
• Artificial Intelligence was used to help us quickly review the state-provided public records for this story.
• Artificial Intelligence was used to help us efficiently review the data used in this story.
• In our analysis, we used Artificial Intelligence to enhance our investigative efforts.
• Artificial Intelligence assisted us in the thorough analysis of public records received from the state.
• Artificial Intelligence assisted us in the thorough analysis of data used in this story.

Write content:

• We used Artificial Intelligence to draft the content of this _____. (newsletter, social post, story).
• Using news articles we previously published, we used Artificial Intelligence to help draft the content of this ____.
• We used Artificial Intelligence to draft the content of this _____. (newsletter, social post, story). It’s based on _____. (our previous news stories, wire coverage we trust, our recent news coverage).
• Artificial Intelligence wrote this story based on original reporting from our story archive.
• Artificial Intelligence wrote this story based on information from wire reports.
• Artificial Intelligence wrote this story by gathering and analyzing information from extensive internet searches.

Translate content:

• In this story, we used Artificial Intelligence to translate our original news coverage into multiple languages.
• In this story, we used Artificial Intelligence to translate our original news coverage into _____ (Spanish, German, etc.)
• In this story, we employed Artificial Intelligence to translate our original news coverage into several languages.
• We used Artificial Intelligence in this story to convert our news coverage into multiple languages.
• In this story, our original news coverage was translated into multiple languages with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
• This story features our original news coverage translated into various languages using Artificial Intelligence.
• We relied on Artificial Intelligence to translate our original news coverage into multiple languages for this story.
• In this story, Artificial Intelligence helped us translate our news coverage into a variety of languages.
• Our news coverage was made accessible in multiple languages thanks to Artificial Intelligence.
• To translate our original news coverage into multiple languages, we used Artificial Intelligence in this story.
• This story involved using Artificial Intelligence to translate our news coverage into different languages.

Summarize content:

• This summary was generated with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
• The following summary was created using AI.
• Artificial Intelligence assisted in generating the summary below.
• We used AI to help produce the summary of this story.
• The summary you see here was created with assistance from Artificial Intelligence.
• AI supported the creation of this story summary.
• This story overview is based on our full reporting and was created with the help of AI.
• We used Artificial Intelligence to generate the following story highlights.
• The main story points below were produced with the assistance of AI.

Photo/Video editing or creation:

• We used AI to enhance/edit visuals used in this story.
• Artificial Intelligence assisted us in editing/creating photo and video elements for this story.
• We applied AI to generate or improve visual content for this story.
• Visual elements in this story were created or enhanced using Artificial Intelligence.
• Artificial Intelligence technology was used to support the creation or editing of visuals in this story.
• Some visual components in this story were edited or produced with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
• Artificial Intelligence was used to assist in producing or modifying the photo and video content in this story.
• We used Artificial Intelligence to create or refine the visuals accompanying this story.
• AI was used to enhance video/photo elements in this story.

Human review and accuracy/ethical adherence

• The reporter and editor double-checked the quotes for accuracy before including them in the story.
• We reviewed the original audio before including a quote in a story to ensure accuracy.
• To ensure accuracy, we reviewed the original audio before including a quote in the story.
• Before including a quote in the story, we listened to the original audio to ensure accuracy.
• All quotes were reviewed for accuracy by listening to the original audio of the interview.
• Our team reviewed all quotes for accuracy before including them in the story.
• The reporters fact-checked the information used in the story by re-reviewing the public records by hand.
• Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, reviewing, editing and publishing process.
• This schedule was generated automatically using information from xxxx and a template written and reviewed by a xxxx newsroom editor.
• This story summary was created with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (Al) and reviewed by a journalist before publication. No other parts of the article were generated using Al.
• The final content was reviewed and edited by our team to ensure accuracy.
• The final content was reviewed by our team to ensure accuracy.
• The final content was edited by our team to ensure accuracy.
• Our team reviewed the post to ensure it accurately reflects the facts and tone of our reporting.
• Our team reviewed the post to ensure its accuracy.
• Our team fact-checked the post to ensure its accuracy.
• Our team reviewed the post to ensure it accurately reflects the facts and tone of our reporting.
• Our team fact-checked the post to ensure it accurately reflects the facts and tone of our reporting.
• Our editors carefully reviewed and edited the AI-generated text to ensure it aligns with our standards for accuracy and fairness.
• Our journalists carefully reviewed and edited the AI-generated text to ensure it aligns with our standards for accuracy.
• XXX journalists carefully edited the AI-generated text to ensure it aligns with our standards for accuracy and fairness.
• Our journalists carefully edited the AI-generated text to ensure it aligns with our standards for accuracy.
• Our team carefully reviewed and edited the AI-generated text to ensure it accurately represents the facts and meets our ethical standards.
• Our journalists carefully reviewed and edited the AI-generated text to ensure it accurately represents the facts.
• Our editors carefully edited the AI-generated text to ensure it accurately represents the facts.
• Our team carefully reviewed and edited the translation to ensure it accurately conveys the intended meaning and maintains the quality of our reporting.
• We carefully selected this tool to make sure it operates in an ethical way.
• We carefully selected this tool after making sure it operates in a way that would meet our editorial and ethical standards.
• Our editorial team reviewed this content to ensure it meets our standards for fairness, accuracy, and ethical reporting.
• Before publication, a journalist edited this content to ensure it met our standards for accuracy and responsible use of technology.
• We reviewed this AI-assisted content to ensure it upholds our commitment to ethical journalism.
• We applied our ethical standards when reviewing and publishing this AI-assisted content.
• Our newsroom only publishes AI-assisted content that has been reviewed for fairness, context and accuracy.
• This material was reviewed by a journalist to ensure it aligns with our values of transparency and ethical reporting.

Why it was used

Efficiency:

• Using Artificial Intelligence allowed us to work more quickly to find information and organize our notes as we wrote this story.
• Using Artificial Intelligence allowed us to review and understand the information and facts more quickly.
• Using Artificial Intelligence allowed us to work more efficiently to find information and organize our notes as we wrote this story, allowing us more time to edit and fact-check for accuracy and fairness.
• Using Artificial Intelligence made the reporting process more efficient, giving us more time to fact-check this story for accuracy and fairness.
• Requesting public records to get beyond the “he said she said” is an important part of our reporting process, and AI allowed us to do this more efficiently.
• Using Artificial Intelligence in this way allows us to quickly share important updates with you.
• Utilizing AI for translation allowed us to efficiently share our stories with a broader audience.
• Without the help of Artificial Intelligence, we wouldn’t have been able to include so many sources in this story.
• Without the help of Artificial Intelligence, we wouldn’t have been able to include so many different perspectives in this story.

Do more:

• Without the help of Artificial Intelligence, we wouldn’t have been able to produce this investigative story.
• Without the help of Artificial Intelligence, we wouldn’t have been able to do this story.
• Without the help of Artificial Intelligence, we wouldn’t have been able to sort through and make sense of all of the documents so quickly.
• Using Artificial Intelligence made the reporting process more efficient, giving us time to produce additional stories for you.
• Using Artificial Intelligence made the reporting process more efficient, giving us time to produce more local news for you.
• Using Artificial Intelligence allows us to spend time focusing on more complex, investigative stories.
• Using Artificial Intelligence allows us to convert our news coverage into different formats for social media, video and audio platforms.
• Using Artificial Intelligence allows us to convert our news coverage into different formats for social media, video and audio platforms, reaching you where you like to consume information.
• Using Artificial Intelligence allows us more time to dig deeper and provide important context for you about this issue.
• Using Artificial Intelligence allowed us to produce this content more efficiently, freeing reporters to cover more stories.
• Using Artificial Intelligence allowed us to be more efficient, freeing up reporters to follow other leads and produce more stories related to this topic.
• Using Artificial Intelligence in this process allowed us to efficiently compile and distribute the content in different formats, so our team could focus on delivering more in-depth and timely stories.
• Artificial Intelligence enabled us to quickly process and present timely information, allowing our reporters to concentrate on deeper, more nuanced stories.
• Using Artificial Intelligence allows us to provide you with information on a wider range of story topics.
• Utilizing Artificial Intelligence allowed us to quickly share our stories with a broader audience, allowing our team to produce more local stories for you.

Make same information available to different audiences:

• Without the help of Artificial Intelligence, we wouldn’t have been able to translate this story into multiple languages to serve our diverse community.
• Without the help of Artificial Intelligence, we wouldn’t have been able to translate this story into multiple languages to meet the needs of our community.
• Without the help of Artificial Intelligence, we wouldn’t have been able to provide this content in a video format.
• Without the help of Artificial Intelligence, we wouldn’t have been able to provide this story in an audio format.
• Without the help of Artificial Intelligence, we wouldn’t have been able to provide this story in different versions for TV, radio, social media and newsletters.

At Trusting News, we learn how people decide what news to trust and turn that knowledge into actionable strategies for journalists. We train and empower journalists to take responsibility for demonstrating credibility and actively earning trust through transparency and engagement. Learn more about our work, vision and team. Subscribe to our Trust Tips newsletter. Follow us on Twitter, BlueSky and LinkedIn.