Microsoft’s news site is to sack 50 journos and replace them with an AI programme, reports the Seattle Times.

The journalists staffed Microsoft’s MSN website and Edge browser. They did not write original stories but made selections of stories from other media.

27 of the journalists were sub-contractors employed by PA Media, formerly the Press Association, and they will lose their jobs in a month.

“We are in the process of winding down the Microsoft team working at PA, and we are doing everything we can to support the individuals concerned,” says PA.

MS says: “Like all companies, we evaluate our business on a regular basis. This can result in increased investment in some places and, from time to time, re-deployment in others. These decisions are not the result of the current pandemic.”

Microsoft is working on programmes which automate journalists’ functions, as are Google, Automated Insights, Narrative Science, United Robots and Yseop.

These companies develop algorithms which select stories according to a set of pre-programmed criteria and add in relevant data from other sources.

Forbes, the LA Times and AP are said to be using the technology.