Years ago I was asked to participate in an online debate technology will affect writers. In one of my arguments (which I think I still have lying around somewhere, and may post one day), I said that its very possible that computers will be able to write acceptable quality newspaper articles. Though intended as a minor — and by no means original — point of my argument, it became the most fiercly debated topic with many participants refusing to accept the possibility.

Last week, two researchers from the U.S. successfully demonstrated such a program by creating “high-quality narrative prose comparable to, and in some cases identical to, that routinely produced by human authors”. Landing as it does in silly season, there’s been some amusing reactions from journalists.