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Artificial intelligence has seeped into many creative trades — from urban planning to translations to painting. The latest: visualizations in journalism.

Why it matters: Computers are getting better at doing what humans can do, including creating art from scratch. But design is much more than mashing together some known shapes on top of a color background.

Artists interpret and convey abstract stories through a single image that not only has to grab someone's attention, but also stand the test of time.

Case in point: Brian Rumao, managing director at Next Play Ventures, posted a sample on Twitter using an AI image generation tool from Open AI called Dall-E 2 to try to reproduce a couple Axios visuals, to some success (see sample below).

The image on the center-left was created after inputting "a long black chain-link fence with barbed-wire dollar-signs on top, against a yellow background" into the tool, Rumao noted.

Screenshot of two tweets featuring Axios Visuals beside similar Dall-e composites 

The post generated a lot of internal discussion among the 23 visual journalists at Axios.

This led to the question: What is the difference between an editorial illustration developed by a human being and a visual composite generated by AI?

The big picture: Digital art generated from new AI systems like Midjourney and OpenAI's Dall-E 2 have prompted a lot of newsroom discussions, especially as the Dall-E 2 website explicitly mentions using the tool to generate newsletter art.

On the one hand: Machine-learning platforms can create photo composites from inputs to mimic fine art, photography or illustration. 

On the other hand: Editorial illustration requires a level of conceptualization, visual metaphor and story connection that these kinds of tools currently can't replicate. 

How it works: At Axios, illustrators begin by pinpointing key ideas from a story.

Next, they conceptualize visual representations of the themes.

Then they brainstorm how to tie the themes together to create a metaphor.

After producing several mockups, illustrators often select a version that's quickest to read — or one that's "reader first" — that conveys an idea at first glance.

An example: A story about two health care startups merging might prompt an illustrator to depict "digital," "health" and "merger" — the key elements of the story — using symbols that represent each. 

The final version might be two syringes tied together with an ethernet cable.

One issue is that AI technology can be prone to encoded biases. While people also are influenced by their biases, they can take steps to overcome these.

Editorial journalists are trained to consider these issues, and by encouraging conversations inside a diverse newsroom, they can see possible problematic interpretations of a visual.

People can also follow the evolution of language closely, and how those changes should be reflected visually. They can watch for tropes and guard against overused symbolism.

What to watch: For now, AI like Dall-E 2 is incapable of replicating the creative problem-solving process required to create successful editorial illustrations.

They are, however, turning out to be powerful tools to generate colors, ideas, patterns, textures, or mood boards for larger projects.

AI-generated digital art spurs debate about news illustrations

AI digital art may be improving — but hasn't replicated the creative problem-solving process needed for newsrooms.

Illustration of a artist's pallet with drops of paint in the shape of binary code 

Artificial intelligence

Automation and AI

Artificial intelligence has seeped into many creative trades — from<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" urban planning" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/08/03/artist-ai-dall-e-urban-design" data-vars-content-id="7f6026c1-80b2-4a8d-9b02-b5f34e9f8677" data-vars-headline="AI-generated digital art spurs debate about news illustrations" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/08/03/artist-ai-dall-e-urban-design" target="_self"> urban planning</a> to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="translations" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/07/06/facebook-ai-translator-200-languages" data-vars-content-id="7f6026c1-80b2-4a8d-9b02-b5f34e9f8677" data-vars-headline="AI-generated digital art spurs debate about news illustrations" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/07/06/facebook-ai-translator-200-languages" target="_self">translations</a> to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="painting" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/04/08/robotic-artist-ai-artificial-intelligence-artwork" data-vars-content-id="7f6026c1-80b2-4a8d-9b02-b5f34e9f8677" data-vars-headline="AI-generated digital art spurs debate about news illustrations" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/04/08/robotic-artist-ai-artificial-intelligence-artwork" target="_self">painting</a>. The latest: visualizations in journalism.Why it matters: Computers are getting better at doing what humans can do, including creating art from scratch. But design is much more than mashing together some known shapes on top of a color background.

From the Valley to D.C., Big Tech players like Facebook, Google and Amazon are under more scrutiny than ever as new technology develops and privacy and antitrust concerns grow in lockstep with companies’ ambitions.

Technology

A food revolution began pre-pandemic, partly due to a culture war inspired by climate change. 

COVID — with its supply chain issues, social distancing, worker shortages, even the loss of smell and taste — accelerated all that.

America's food industry is transforming, from farm to your table.

How the pandemic changed how we eat

Illustration of a slice of pie in the shape of an American flag with chart elements

Visuals Deep Dive 2021

A food revolution began pre-pandemic, partly due to a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="culture war" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/food-climate-culture-wars-214118ef-6cc3-487a-9a21-ef5648ca8a81.html" data-vars-content-id="bb3356ba-19e2-4d50-bc71-208650aa05f4" data-vars-headline="How the pandemic changed how we eat" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/food-climate-culture-wars-214118ef-6cc3-487a-9a21-ef5648ca8a81.html" target="_self">culture war</a> inspired by climate change. <ul><li>COVID — with its supply chain issues, social distancing, worker shortages, even the loss of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="smell and taste" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/coronavirus-smell-loss-anosmia-3046b6f5-9164-4d82-9884-a59b495ffd9a.html" data-vars-content-id="bb3356ba-19e2-4d50-bc71-208650aa05f4" data-vars-headline="How the pandemic changed how we eat" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/coronavirus-smell-loss-anosmia-3046b6f5-9164-4d82-9884-a59b495ffd9a.html" target="_self">smell and taste</a> — accelerated all that.</li></ul>America&#x27;s food industry is transforming, from farm to your table.

After a record economic expansion, the coronavirus pandemic sent the U.S. economy into a recession as unemployment soared to staggering heights. The country now faces urgent questions about how much stimulus is needed for reeling consumers and businesses, and what a recovery might look like.

Economy & Business

Data: American Farm Bureau Federation; Chart: Sarah Grillo and Will Chase/Axios; Note: Milk was removed from our analysis, resulting in minor differences between our totals and those reported by the Farm Bureau Federation

Putting together a traditional Thanksgiving meal will cost about 14% more this year than it did in 2020.

Why it matters: Thanksgiving inflation, according to price estimates from the American Farm Bureau, is even greater than the overall increase in the cost of food.

Details: A 16-pound turkey will set you back about $24, almost $5 more than the average cost a year ago, according to the American Farm Bureau's informal survey of prices at grocery stores across the country.

The ingredients for a "classic" Thanksgiving meal add up to $53, per the Farm Bureau. Add a ham and a couple more sides to the table, and the total rises to $65.

Inflation, supply-chain problems and "high global demand for food, particularly meat" have all contributed to the rising costs, Farm Bureau senior economist Veronica Nigh said in a release.

Yes, but: The Farm Bureau's math is based on the quantities of food you'd need to feed 10 people, and for a 10-person gathering, a $53 meal would still come out to less than $6 per person.

What's next: Shortages and supply-chain problems are likely to persist throughout the holiday season. 

Thanksgiving inflation: Cost of turkey feast up 14%

The cost of a turkey dinner is up by about 14%.

Thanksgiving

A graphic showing the average 2021 Thanksgiving table costs

Putting together a traditional Thanksgiving meal will cost about 14% more this year than it did in 2020.Why it matters: Thanksgiving inflation, according to price estimates from the American Farm Bureau, is even greater than the overall increase in the cost of food.

Data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; Chart: Jared Whalen/Axios

Rising pay isn't bringing in enough restaurant workers, adding to the strain on current employees.

A survey of 4,700+ former, current and aspiring restaurant workers found many employees aren't leaving the workforce — just restaurants.

Among respondents who left jobs in the past 18 months, 28% did so for higher paying jobs in a different industry, according to the survey by Black Box Intelligence and Snagajob.

The big picture: Restaurants and bars are still 1 million jobs down from pre-pandemic levels. Combative customers, unpredictable schedules, lack of benefits, career changes, and fear of COVID all take their toll.

Food and hospitality industries still recovering from pandemic shock

A survey found many restaurant workers aren't leaving the workforce — just restaurants.

Jobs

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Rising pay" data-vars-click-url="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t24.htm" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t24.htm" target="_blank">Rising pay</a> isn&#x27;t bringing in enough restaurant workers, adding to the strain on <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="current employees" data-vars-click-url="https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/now-hiring-how-the-labor-shortage-is-squeezing-full-service-restaurants/599453/" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/now-hiring-how-the-labor-shortage-is-squeezing-full-service-restaurants/599453/" target="_blank">current employees</a>.<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="A survey" data-vars-click-url="https://blackboxintelligence.com/snagajob-black-box-intelligence-restaurant-hourly-worker-report/" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://blackboxintelligence.com/snagajob-black-box-intelligence-restaurant-hourly-worker-report/" target="_blank">A survey</a> of 4,700+ former, current and aspiring restaurant workers found many employees aren&#x27;t leaving the workforce — just restaurants.

Sunday marked six months since President Trump declared a national emergency over the coronavirus. If those six months feel like a blur to you, you’re not alone.

The big picture: The sheer scale of what the U.S. has been through since March — a death toll equivalent to 65 Sept. 11 attacks, millions out of work, everyday life upended, with roiling protests and a presidential election to top it all off — can not only be hard to process, but hard to even keep track of. 

Here’s a (partial) timeline to help make sense of these past six months.

Data: CSSE Johns Hopkins University; Photos: Getty; Graphic: Danielle Alberti, Sarah Grillo, Andrew Witherspoon/Axios

Six months that changed everything

How the pandemic has unfolded in the six months since the emergency was declared.

Health Care

Coronavirus

Sunday marked six months since President Trump declared a national emergency over the coronavirus. If those six months feel like a blur to you, you’re not alone.The big picture: The sheer scale of what the U.S. has been through since March — a death toll equivalent to 65 Sept. 11 attacks, millions out of work, everyday life upended, with roiling protests and a presidential election to top it all off — can not only be hard to process, but hard to even keep track of.

The U.S. faces a range of health care flashpoints — unaffordable drugs, opioids, vaping — as we debate whether to adopt universal care. For now, the Affordable Care Act is the law of the land, but Republicans want to issue it a final death blow.

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Sarah Grillo

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AI-generated digital art spurs debate about news illustrations

Food and hospitality industries still recovering from pandemic shock

How the pandemic changed how we eat

Thanksgiving inflation: Cost of turkey feast up 14%

Six months that changed everything