On The Radar: The impact of AI on journalism
16 March 2023
This week, the Asia Media Centre is checking out the AI tool everyone's been talking about, ChatGPT. How good is it really? We gave it a prompt to write a 300 word article examining how AI is impacting journalism in Asia noting both the positive and negative impacts and how governments are using AI to influence media. Here's what it had to say:
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been making strides in various industries, and journalism is no exception. In Asia, AI is transforming the way journalists work, bringing both positive and negative impacts to the industry. Governments in the region are also using AI to influence media, further shaping the landscape of journalism.
On the positive side, AI is improving the efficiency and accuracy of news reporting. In China, Xinhua News Agency has employed AI anchors to report the news. These digital anchors can work 24/7, allowing the news agency to provide real-time news updates. They are also able to report news in multiple languages, expanding the reach of the news agency. In South Korea, AI is being used to fact-check news articles, ensuring that the information published is accurate and unbiased. This reduces the workload of journalists, allowing them to focus on more in-depth reporting.
However, the rise of AI in journalism also presents some challenges. With the ability to generate articles automatically, AI has the potential to replace human journalists. In fact, in some cases, AI-generated articles are already being used by news outlets. This raises questions about the future of journalism and the role of journalists in the newsroom. It also raises concerns about the quality of news reporting, as AI-generated articles may lack the human touch and perspective that journalists provide.
Governments in Asia are also using AI to influence media. In China, the government has developed an AI-powered system to monitor online content and identify potential sources of unrest. This system is also used to censor content deemed to be politically sensitive. In India, the government is using AI to monitor social media activity and identify fake news. While these initiatives are aimed at maintaining social stability, they also raise concerns about censorship and privacy.
In conclusion, AI is having a significant impact on journalism in Asia. While it is improving the efficiency and accuracy of news reporting, it is also presenting challenges and concerns. As AI technology continues to develop, it will be important for journalists to adapt and find ways to incorporate AI into their work while preserving the values and ethics of journalism. It will also be important for governments to use AI in a responsible and transparent manner, to ensure that the media landscape remains free and open.
- Asia Media Centre
