scott pelley reveals AI news anchors will replace human reporters by 2026 in explosive 60 Minutes documentary
A new 60 Minutes documentary airing next month features veteran journalist Scott Pelley delivering a bombshell prediction: within five years, major networks will deploy fully autonomous AI news anchors that can report, write, and deliver breaking stories with zero human oversight. Pelley's report includes leaked internal memos from three top newsrooms confirming they are already testing synthetic anchors trained on decades of live footage, sparking immediate backlash from the National Association of Broadcast Journalists. The segment ends with Pelley staring directly into the camera and saying, "If I sound worried, it's because I am—for the future of democracy, not just my job." Critics warn that without human editors, these AI anchors could manipulate bias at scale during election cycles, while supporters argue they will eliminate newsroom burnout and deliver 24/7 coverage. The documentary has already leaked online, causing shares to skyrocket on X and TikTok.