Artificial Intelligence Chatbots as Assistants for Media Users: The Cases of El País and El Espectador

In recent months, some media outlets have been launching artificial intelligence-based chatbots that serve as assistants to users in their search, selection and consumption of content. This research analyses two such examples: Vera, a conversational assistant launched by the Spanish newspaper El País, and the model used by the Colombian newspaper El Espectador, which operates on the WhatsApp platform. Both chatbots share the same approach: they are tools designed for users to interact with newspaper content. This interaction takes place through natural language conversations: the technology understands ‘users’ questions or requests and provides answers based on the content hosted in the newspapers. This changes the way media content is explored. We are moving from a paradigm centred on search engines and keywords to one in which conversation determines the discovery of content. The research analyses the results of these two pioneering experiences in the Spanish-language media. The aim is to understand the extent to which they are changing the relationship with content and how they are affecting the media.