Peter Thiel's ambitious foray into the world of journalism has taken an intriguing turn with the launch of his new startup, The Primary. Initially, Thiel's venture, Objection, aimed to disrupt the media landscape by putting journalists on trial through AI-powered arbitrations. However, the company has now pivoted to a more intriguing model, ranking journalists based on the expertise of a large language model.
The man behind this venture, Aron D'Souza, is no stranger to controversy. He gained fame as the legal mastermind behind Thiel's successful lawsuit against Gawker, a media outlet despised by the right-wing tech billionaire. D'Souza's latest endeavor, The Primary, aims to address what he sees as a fundamental issue in journalism: the lack of evaluation and recognition for individual reporters.
The Evolution of Objection
Objection's first tribunal targeted The Hollywood Reporter's coverage of an heir to the Sackler family, whose wealth was tied to the opioid crisis. D'Souza argued that journalists hold immense power, often to the detriment of billionaires and CEOs. However, the challenge lay in developing proprietary software that could provide unbiased verdicts. D'Souza and his team realized that AI-based reasoning models were easier to implement than a fair adjudication system.
The solution? The Primary, a public methodology that scores and ranks journalists based on the rigor of their reporting. The company's white paper outlines the metrics used to determine journalistic credibility, including source attribution and coverage tone. This new approach aims to address the issue of journalistic evaluation and incentivize quality reporting.
The Economics of Journalism
D'Souza's personal experience with an interview published by TechCrunch highlights the economics of journalism in the age of AI. He argues that machines often take the value created by reporters, leaving them with little recognition or reward. This realization prompted him to shift his focus from Objection's enforcement-based approach to The Primary's scoring system.
Impact and Implications
The Primary's rankings have already sparked interest, with The Washington Post and CBS News leading the way. D'Souza believes that this scorecard will incentivize better journalism by providing reporters with a portable, public record of their work. However, the venture has its critics, with some questioning the trustworthiness of the adjudication system.
Watchdogs for Watchdogs
The Primary is not the first to attempt to hold journalists accountable. Previous ventures, such as NewsTrust and The Factual, have come and gone. The challenge lies in creating a sustainable and unbiased system that can withstand the scrutiny of an industry known for its independence and critical eye.
Final Thoughts
Peter Thiel's latest venture raises important questions about the future of journalism and the role of AI in evaluating and incentivizing quality reporting. While The Primary's approach is intriguing, it remains to be seen whether it can navigate the complex landscape of journalistic ethics and maintain its integrity. As an observer, I find it fascinating to witness these attempts to disrupt and improve an industry that plays such a crucial role in our society.
