"This article explores South African journalists’ perceptions of the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) systems and algorithms in the newsroom. It specifically investigates (a) journalists’ impressions of AI adoption itself and (b) their current AI usage. It also investigates journalists’ perception of AI’s (c) potential for increased story production, (d) for more investigative time, (e) and for amplification of marginalised and local voices in mainstream news coverage; and lastly, for (f) perpetuating societal inequalities. For appreciation of journalists’ perceptions of integration of AI systems and algorithms in the newsrooms, this study is guided by qualitative research methodology. Within the qualitative research methodology, seventeen in-depth interviews were conducted with journalists from various South African news media organisations and their responses were analysed thematically. In addition, the study employed an analytical framework, the technology acceptance model. This article concludes that journalists interviewed perceive AI as inevitable and an ongoing topic of discussion, with its applications and ethical guidelines still being developed. Despite recognising AI’s potential to augment both story quantity and quality, journalists express apprehension about embedded biases and reliability issues. Moreover, there is prevailing scepticism about the capacity of AI to foster the inclusion of local voices in news coverage." (Abstract)