It’s that time of year when we step back and take stock. With AI dominating headlines, boardrooms, and policy debates, I wanted to look at how the media portrayed AI and related developments across the 2025 calendar year, and compare that coverage with what we saw in 2024. The goal was to understand how narratives, priorities, and concerns shifted over time.
The underlying assumption is simple: media coverage, while imperfect, tends to mirror the broader socio-economic, policy, and political mood of the moment.
What follows is a summary of the methodology I used, the process I followed, and the results that emerged.
The AI Sentiment Meter
"A headline-based index tracking how Indian newspapers frame AI each month—scored using weighted positives (jobs, pay, healthcare, policy) and negatives (job losses, energy, water, fraud) to capture shifting media sentiment."
Disclaimer
This index reflects media sentiment, not economic impact or employment outcomes.
Headline selection and classification involve editorial judgement based on my understanding and alternative interpretations are possible. The dataset is indicative, based on verified headlines, and is intended to capture narrative direction rather than provide an exhaustive census of all AI-related coverage.
Sentiment Calculation
Weightages Used
Positive Headlines
| Theme | Weight |
|---|---|
| New job roles created due to AI | +2.0 |
| Increased pay / wage premium for AI roles | +2.0 |
| Government initiatives to expand AI usage | +1.5 |
| Detection or prevention of fraud using AI | +1.5 |
| New medical diagnosis or healthcare benefits due to AI | +1.5 |
Negative Headlines
| Theme | Weight |
|---|---|
| Job losses due to AI | –2.0 |
| Increased water consumption by AI or data centres | –1.75 |
| Increased energy consumption by AI or data centres | –1.5 |
| Fraud or crime enabled using AI | –1.5 |
Neutral Headlines
-
Assigned a score of 0
Methodology
This AI Media Sentiment Meter is based on a headline-only analysis of five national newspapers: Times of India, Economic Times, Hindustan Times, The Hindu, and Business Standard. Headlines referring to Artificial Intelligence or data centres were identified month-wise for the period January 2024 to December 2025.
Each headline was manually classified using a predefined rule-based framework and assigned a sentiment score based on its dominant theme (noted in weightages used section). Only headlines were analysed; article bodies, opinion pieces, and duplicates were excluded.
Monthly sentiment values represent the arithmetic average of weighted headline scores for that month. All headlines carry equal weight within a month. The meter value will most certainly be more accurate and reflective of sentiment with greater number of headlines analysed- but current constraints on time,effort and analysis restrict the number of headlines checked.
As I emphasise, this is not a detailed, mathematical, comprehensive index or meter. I am merely trying to track AI sentiment subjectively based on media headlines. Use at your own risk and discretion.
The AI Sentiment Meter for 2024 and 2025 (Jan- Dec)
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source: headlines, weightages assigned per my own judgement.
Interpretation
In both 2024 and 2025, media coverage in India stayed broadly cautious. Most reporting centred on announcements, commentary, and international developments, rather than concrete domestic data on job displacement, resource use, or environmental impact.
This is partly because India is still on the upside of the AI adoption curve. With benefits more visible than costs, there is little hard evidence for either industry or government to anchor definitive conclusions. For now, the media reflects a wait-and-watch mood, shaped more by global signals than by local statistics.
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