Computers could soon replace Australian journalists, following a recent move by sections of the US media to introduce automation technology to their newsrooms.

Australian Associated Press editor-in-chief Tony Gillies told The Australian he was actively considering plans to implement the software, which uses algorithms to turn raw data into stories that look like human writing.

The Associated Press in the US recently announced it would this month begin using automation technology from a company called Automated Insights to write company earnings reports. AP managing editor Lou Ferrara said the technology could automatically generate almost 4500 reports each quarter, up from the 300 the company produced manually.

Mr Gillies said the technology had “come a long way” and could help do much of the “heavy lifting” inside newsrooms. He said the Los Angeles Times was using the software to generate content for sports coverage and also other statistic-reliant stories like earthquakes.

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