Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionising numerous fields, including Science, Arts, Fiction, Research, Technology, Medicine, Agriculture, and social and political landscapes. Journalism is no exception. Every emerging technology brings opportunities and challenges, and AI, mimicking human intelligence, is transforming every aspect of life. The Centre for Excellence in Journalism at the Institute of Business Administration (CEJ-IBA), Karachi, addressed this challenge by hosting a 4-day workshop, "AI & Journalism: The Future of News," in collaboration with the US Consulate, Karachi," for working journalists based in Sindh and Balochistan provinces. A group of journalists from diverse backgrounds—digital media, reporting, editing, and opinion-writing—were in attendance.
This workshop aimed to develop computational competency among journalists, enabling the participants to effectively incorporate data-driven insights into their professional work while maintaining the highest ethical standards. CEJ-IBA excels in selecting renowned trainers from the media industry to empower mid-career journalists. For their AI workshop, they chose Abdul Sattar Abbasi (Managing Editor at Dawn.com) and Douglas NG (Digital Data Design Institute at Harvard, America). Their collaborative efforts ensured engaging sessions. Under Taimoor Ahmed's leadership, CEJ-IBA's management showcased exceptional professionalism.
The two trainers shared a common view: over-reliance on AI clips the creative wings of working journalists and opinion makers, leading to redundancy. The same is evidenced in an insightful write-up titled "AI is creating new way of thinking, overdependence could affect human critical thinking: Scientists warn" by Rohini Krishnamurthy published in Down To Earth. The author wrote:
"Artificial intelligence (AI) is paving the way for a new thinking system, which could affect our evolution and potentially put human critical thinking at risk due to overdependence, warned a new article published in the journal Nature Human Behaviour. The new form of thinking is called ‘System 0’. It represents the outsourcing of certain cognitive tasks to AI, which can process vast amounts of data and perform complex computations beyond human capabilities. The risk is relying too much on System 0 without exercising critical thinking. If we passively accept the solutions offered by AI, we might lose our ability to think autonomously and develop innovative ideas. In an increasingly automated world, it is crucial that humans continue to question and challenge the results generated by AI," the experts said in a statement.
Generative AI systems (like ChatGPT and Bard) can create images, audio, video, and other content when they receive prompts from users. As of early 2023, some emerging generative AI systems had reached more than 100 million users, according to the US Government Accountability Office. "The rapid integration of these AI tools into our daily lives is reshaping how we think and make decisions," the paper read. Regarding AI's potential for young people, a group of journalists convincingly argued in their training assignment "Upskilling Younger Population" that upskilling Pakistan's youth requires AI awareness and learning opportunities through workshops and sessions in educational institutions (short-term goal). Long-term plans include the IT Federal Ministry and the respective Provincial Education Ministries integrating AI into curriculum development, creating state-of-the-art institutions, and generating job opportunities.
Pakistan stands out with over 60% of its population being young. By harnessing AI tools, Pakistan can reap economic benefits, empower its youth with AI literacy, and ensure individual economic prosperity, ultimately boosting the national economy. The group sounded alarm bells, having warned that if the youth plateaued in terms of keeping their pace with this new knowledge, they will be left behind when it comes to getting job opportunities.
AI – saving lives and facilitating life
As per a Dawn report, “AI turns human-wildlife conflict into human-wildlife coexistence in GB," in collaboration with the Lahore University of Management Sciences, the WWF developed and installed five AI-based camera traps at strategic locations where snow leopard depredations were reported by the representatives of the local communities. These cameras detect the presence of snow leopards in the surroundings, transfer the data to a centralised system, and generate alerts for members of local communities about the predator. As a result, local communities safeguard their livestock either grazing in the fields or being kept in the household. The technology has significantly reduced the attacks of snow leopards on livestock, turning human-snow leopard conflicts into a symbiotic relationship. Livestock depredation by snow leopards is a major cause of human-wildlife conflict in various valleys in three landscapes such as Karakoram-Pamir, Hindu Kush, and Himalaya. The development coincided with the saving of a herd of about 60 elephants crossing the railway tracks in northeastern Assam state of India last week through AI. The AI-based intrusion detection system (IDS) alerted the loco pilots of the train about the herd of elephants crossing the tracks, propelling them to apply the brakes.
And, Elon Musk plans to introduce humanoid robots for biological pleasures. By 2026, Tesla aims to launch:
- AI-driven Cybercab: a steering wheel and pedal-free vehicle.
- Robovan: an autonomous vehicle capable of transporting 20 people.
Douglas NG's insightful deliberations made it clear that AI is transforming the world through personalised content, data-driven predictions, and medical screenings. However, this transformation's path is fraught with challenges. If mishandled, regression will ensue. Mr Abbasi stressed the importance of incorporating both ethical principles and human oversight when utilising AI tools for news gathering and data-driven content, to ensure responsible and informed intellectual engagement for readers and viewers, particularly among media moguls and opinion writers. To navigate this digital landscape successfully, decision-makers must streamline strategies to achieve accuracy, seek truth, and avoid biased reporting by integrating ethical principles in journalism and investigative storytelling.
In Pakistan's complex political landscape, misinformation has become a cornerstone of national narratives, significantly influencing the rise and fall of political parties and politicians
As AI revolutionises journalism, ethical considerations become paramount. Ensuring transparency, avoiding bias, and maintaining journalistic integrity are crucial challenges. Pakistani journalism faces a critical test: embracing AI's potential while addressing existing shortcomings.
AI can significantly enhance Pakistani journalism's efficiency, equality, and reach. Key benefits include:
- Supporting opinion writers with data-driven insights
- Identifying potential topics and angles for opinion articles
- Improving content generation and analytics
The challenge
Media houses must invest in training employees to effectively utilise AI tools. However, current priorities focus on desk and editorial staff, neglecting field reporters. Freelancers face economic exploitation, with minimal financial compensation for their contributions.
The primary function of journalism is to speak truth to power and empower its workforce to do the same, leveraging modern methods in the media industry. Regrettably, some channels prioritise pro-political party narratives, while numerous anchors lean towards political affiliations and influential interests. Pakistani media's history of supporting repressive regimes and powerful individuals undermines journalistic credibility. The industry's reluctance to challenge authority raises concerns about its ability to adapt to AI-powered professionalism.
In a country where political elites exploit sensationalism through pro-government media channels, with YouTubers and vloggers orchestrating vicious campaigns against independent judges and journalists, repeatedly spreading misinformation to promote puppet politicians and discredit uncompromising leaders, chaos has gripped our social and political markets. In Pakistan's complex political landscape, misinformation has become a cornerstone of national narratives, significantly influencing the rise and fall of political parties and politicians. This agenda is often propagated through specific media outlets and influential opinion-makers. During PTI's tenure, character assassination of political opponents was used to fuel propaganda, exemplifying the adage "keep lying until it's assumed as truth."
In a recent CEJ-IBA podcast (#iVerified #SochPhirpost), veteran journalist Zarrar Khuhro noted: "Even before AI, audio leaks weren't easy to trust. With new tools, it's nearly impossible to know what is real." He added that the landscape is changing, and in just two years, we may not even know what is real anymore
The alleged rape case at Gulberg Girls Campus in Lahore illustrates how misinformation spreads rapidly, unleashing devastating consequences, including loss of life, damage, and property looting. A security guard was tragically killed in the aftermath. The shame from this episode will linger like tar, haunting the victim's life for decades to come, a constant psychological burden. This emotional weight will be carried throughout her life.
The root problem lies in the public education system's failure to cultivate critical thinking, conflict resolution, and decision-making skills—essential 21st-century skills for democratic education. The majority of the population lacks access to quality education, leaving them vulnerable to manipulation.
Key concerns that arise in this regard include:
- Misinformation and Propaganda: Political elites exploiting media for sensationalism and character assassination.
- Failed Education System: Inability to foster critical thinking, conflict resolution, and decision-making skills.
- Chaos in social and political markets, loss of life, and property damage.
Potential solutions include measures to:
- improve education: prioritise democratic education, focusing on critical thinking, conflict resolution, and decision-making skills.
- promote media literacy: educate the public to discern fact from fiction, combating misinformation.
As the saying goes, “if gold rusts, what shall iron do?” The crux of the training was shaping up or shipping out. Media houses must invest in training their workforce or risk crumbling under their own inertia. Media houses’ challenges include the following:
- Lack of investment in training staff
- Economic exploitation of freelancers
- Questionable journalistic credentials
- Limited willingness to challenge authority
When I reached out to three fellow journalists working in national-level newspapers and mainstream news channels to inquire about AI training, two from the newspapers replied that there had been no formal training of staff, and the one from the news channel also responded in the negative. This highlights the need for formal and regular follow-up training to equip staff with AI tools for diverse professional applications. On a separate note, experts believe AI will create jobs beyond our imagination. Journalists and younger individuals who refuse to adapt to this new technology will face immense challenges in their professional and personal lives.
Reportedly, the AI startup Perplexity was hit with a lawsuit by News Corp-owned Dow Jones, the Wall Street Journal, and the New York Post alleging copyright infringement. News Corp alleges that Perplexity, an AI chatbot and search engine, violated copyright laws by…copying writing from the Wall Street Journal and the New York Post and using it to respond to users’ queries, “freeriding” off the news companies and simultaneously driving away their internet traffic. According to the suit: News Corp publishers sent a letter to Perplexity in July, warning it of legal action if it continued to use copyrighted works and even proposed a licensing deal, but Perplexity ghosted them. The complaint alleges that Perplexity can reproduce full articles if asked to and also “hallucinates,” or adds incorrect details to content. This suggests on the one hand addiction to AI tools for professional engagement will concur questionable content and on the other, AI chatbots will be entangled in legal cobwebs for their liberty in terms of feeding hungry media mouths.
Mr Abdul Sattar Abbasi, the trainer, warned against the temptation to simply copy and paste. He predicted the emergence of filters to identify AI-generated content in media. His insights, during the workshop, alarmed journalists, highlighting the decline in sub-editor roles as AI increasingly replaces this workforce, leaving few positions for human editors in the future.
Conclusions
The rise of Computational Cognitive Science called AI has heightened journalistic responsibilities, requiring rigorous data comparison, source transparency, privacy protection, and diligent data analysis of social media content in terms of separating fact from fiction. Fortunately, workshop participants were eager to incorporate AI expertise into their work while maintaining exemplary ethical practices.
However, coming up to the expectations enshrined in the workshop is an uphill task for the working journalists in our country and elsewhere. The prevailing journalistic conditions are dismal in every context. Recently, the UNESCO report dropped a bombshell on the content creators, having revealed that around 62 percent did not verify their content.
The report, titled ‘Behind the Screens’ and released recently, is the first global analysis of digital content creators’ motivations and practices, as well as the challenges they face. “It involved 500 influencers in 45 countries, with the expertise of a dedicated research team at Bowling Green State University in Ohio, United States. According to the report, in terms of sharing content with their audience, 62 per cent of the surveyed digital content creators “admitted to not verifying the accuracy of information before sharing it with their audiences”. About one-third of them (33.5pc) reported that they would share content without checking if they trusted the source or creator. At the same time, over one-third of creators (36.9pc) reported checking the content before dissemination. Some interviewed participants emphasised the importance of accuracy and credibility in their work and recognised the potential consequences of sharing unverified information, the survey noted. The survey found that fact-checking was not the norm, as well as that content creators face difficulty in determining the best criteria for assessing the credibility of information they find online.”
AI presents an opportunity for Pakistani journalism, but its success hinges on addressing existing challenges. Will media houses and newspapers adapt to AI-powered professionalism? Only time will tell. To fully realise AI's benefits, the industry must prioritise:
- comprehensive training for all journalists
- fair compensation for freelancers
- enhanced journalistic integrity
- a commitment to challenging authority
To move forward, let us acknowledge the challenges and seize the opportunities. By investing in training, promoting ethical practices, and fostering a culture of integrity, Pakistani journalism can harness AI's potential and redefine its role in promoting justice and accountability.
In the age of AI, the responsibilities of journalists have doubled in terms of separating fact from fiction as AI tools can help manipulators to concoct stories and cook books and subsequently present the same as reality. Journalists are the guardians of the “Future of News.” Upskilling these journalists with AI tools helps reshape news gathering, report writing, and opinion writing, etc.