Washington State University has entered into a partnership with FanWord, an artificial intelligence firm, to expand the storytelling capabilities of its athletics department. The university announced the collaboration on Monday.
FanWord, a startup based in Lincoln, Nebraska, was founded in 2019. The company reports having agreements with more than 250 public and private educational institutions nationwide, ranging from major conference programs to smaller private colleges.
According to the university, the technology supports the creation of game recaps, feature stories, player biographies, award nominations, transcriptions, and other editorial material. Athletic director Jon Haarlow stated in a press release that the partnership aims to elevate storytelling while improving efficiency. The announcement did not clarify how the integration of AI-generated content will impact university staff or student interns.
A sports reporter for the Lewiston-Tribune and a graduate of the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication expressed concern regarding the potential reduction of opportunities for students. The reporter noted that internships with athletics departments are valuable for students pursuing careers in sports media, allowing them to conduct initial interviews, build relationships, and develop writing skills. The reporter stated that because the stated intent is to generate content, the partnership may limit these learning opportunities, adding, "I really hope it has a minimal role in the writing process, but it doesn't seem like that will be the case."
Athletics department spokesman Bobby Alworth stated that the partnership is not expected to eliminate student opportunities. He explained that the department is exploring the capabilities of FanWord, including feature writing. Alworth noted that game reporting and play-by-play statistics will be input into the software to generate recaps, stating, "So you can have it put it in AP style, say I want five or six paragraphs.... Slanted toward WSU, obviously."
Alworth described the software as a tool for the communication team to reduce the time required for writing recaps, transcribing news conferences, or updating statistics. He confirmed that no full-time positions were eliminated and reiterated the department's commitment to student opportunities. "Students will still have opportunities to interview; it also helps our athletes who may not have experience with the media," Alworth said.
A spokesman for Gonzaga University athletics stated that the institution ended its agreement with FanWord after one year due to budget cuts ahead of the 2026-27 school year. The spokesman noted that the software served as a useful research tool and suggested that concerns directed at WSU and other Pac-12 institutions regarding the technology are exaggerated.
FanWord's capabilities are broad and difficult to measure precisely, according to Henderson, who characterized it as a resource designed to support athletic communications offices.
Across the nation, university athletics departments are reducing staff sizes, Henderson noted, leading many to adopt artificial intelligence for assistance. At Gonzaga University, employees and student interns utilized the software for compiling statistics, transcribing interviews, and performing other routine, labor-intensive duties.
Gonzaga's athletics department did not employ FanWord to write feature stories. Henderson explained that this capability is a separate, additional expense that the university chose not to incur.
Henderson acknowledged the concerns regarding potential lost opportunities for student interns and employees, noting their importance to athletics departments, particularly in the Inland Northwest.
"Our area relies heavily on student workers; we value our students and owe them a great deal," he stated.
Gonzaga maintains other artificial intelligence connections, though of a different nature. The university announced last week that Altana, an AI logistics company, will become a sponsor, including a patch on the men's basketball team's jerseys, as noted in earlier reporting.
Altana's clients include the U.S. government and major retailers.
Aarik Long, a former Murrow student and current sports editor for the Mountaineer in Waynesville, North Carolina, expressed relief that FanWord is intended primarily as a back-end tool.
He stated that making data easier to understand and access would be beneficial, but cautioned that care is required.
"It's a slippery slope," Long said.
Bruce Pinkleton, dean of the Murrow communications school, addressed concerns about student opportunities in a statement released Tuesday on social media, though he did not express a personal opinion on the issue. He reported that 10 Murrow students are currently working with the department, a figure he said is the highest in several years, and added that he is encouraged by Haarlow's support for student opportunities.
"We are teaching our students to use a variety of tools, including AI, and we continue to emphasize hands-on learning opportunities that incorporate AI along with other tools prevalent in our field," Pinkleton's statement read.
Taylor noted that not all of those students may be tasked with generating written content for the department; some are photographers while others hold assistant or administrative roles.
"It is disingenuous of the university to boast about the students working in the department and to not clarify the lack of opportunities to create," Taylor said. He is open-minded about AI tools that assist with the creative process, such as software used to transcribe a recording, but is skeptical of how the partnership will evolve over time.
"It's yet to be seen how WSU will actually use it," Taylor said.
Long said the university should be aware of potential fabrications produced by the software, which have been documented in other instances of artificial intelligence use. A human will still be needed to verify the final output.
While the platform may be used for work considered tedious, that is still work many student journalists would be willing to undertake, he said.
"There's students there that would love to have that experience and to get their foot in the door," Long said.
Washington State University's three-year agreement with FanWord will cost $5,000 annually, Alworth stated. He said it will be a learning experience for students as much as for the department.
A local official characterized the initiative as a resource for shared learning and future readiness, according to Alworth.
Additional reporting was contributed by a reporter from the Spokesman-Review.