In a rapidly evolving world, AI presents unique opportunities and challenges for Nigerian media, reshaping journalism and storytelling. Here’s what the future holds.
On 15 November 2023, the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) invited me to speak on “Nigerian Media, Sustainability, and Existential Threats by Big Tech.”
Being asked again this year is an honour, though I suspect it may be my last time as a speaker. Soon enough, advanced AI models may be taking over.
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With rapid developments in information and biotechnology, it feels as though there’s little AI cannot achieve.
Generative artificial intelligence (AI), in its simplest terms, refers to computer systems performing tasks once reserved for humans.
In journalism, AI’s role is broadening, posing both opportunities and threats.
Journalists once saw themselves as storytelling experts, but this perception is being reshaped in an AI-driven era, sparking significant anxieties among professionals, especially Luddites.
AI in Everyday Life: A Personal Encounter
AI has subtly seeped into everyday tasks. Recently, when I planned to redecorate my apartment, I approached two interior decorators in Abuja.
Both demanded a deposit, which I wasn’t keen to pay. Instead, I turned to ChatGPT, inputting my room specifications.
Within minutes, I had a design plan. ChatGPT even offered alternatives! With tools like Midjourney or AR, the output could be even more impressive.
Such convenience, though astonishing, reflects a broader trend across industries. Nic Newman’s “Digital News Project 2024,” in its report *Journalism, Media, and Technology Trends and Predictions 2024*, highlights growing concerns among global digital leaders about rising operational costs, declining revenues, and the ethical implications of AI.
Over 300 industry experts from 50 countries voiced worries about using AI for news automation and content customisation through emerging tools like augmented and virtual reality devices.
Global AI in Storytelling: Case Studies from Mexico and Poland
AI’s influence on storytelling is evident worldwide. In Mexico, Grupo Formula launched three avatars—NAT, SOFI, and MAX—acting as robotic journalists, generating entertainment, sports, and political content for social media. Grupo Formula’s director noted, “We aim to connect with younger audiences who find traditional newscasts obsolete.”
Similarly, Poland’s Radio Krakow relaunched OFF Radio with AI-driven presenters, marking the country’s first experiment where AI plays the role of a traditional journalist.
These AI storytellers provide tailored content for younger demographics who prefer interactive, tech-driven formats.
Opportunities in AI Journalism: Enhancing Storytelling
AI offers significant potential for enhancing journalism through:
1. **Streamlined Content Production:** AI tools can handle routine tasks, allowing journalists to focus on creativity. AI can even draft initial story versions.
2. **Personalised Content:** Algorithms analyse audience preferences, enabling tailored content delivery.
3. **Enhanced Engagement:** AI-facilitated multimedia and interactive storytelling can attract audiences who shy away from traditional reporting.
4. **New Opportunities in Collaboration:** Projects like the Panama Papers investigation, which brought together 400 journalists worldwide, highlight the potential for AI-assisted large-scale investigative work.
5. **Order in Chaos:** As Zach Seward writes in *AI News That’s Fit to Print*, AI can summarise, structure, and clarify vast data, helping journalists sift through and make sense of complex information.
Challenges of AI in Journalism: Ethics, Quality, and Originality
Despite its potential, AI presents ethical challenges. Generative models may produce misleading content, blurring the line between reality and fabrication.
Legal and privacy issues are also pertinent. AI’s limitations are evident in examples like the “tech error soup” from *CNET*, where AI-produced financial articles were riddled with inaccuracies, and *Sports Illustrated*’s bot-generated stories, which led to a public backlash due to fake authorship.
However, when carefully implemented, AI can support investigative work and data analysis. Examples include *BuzzFeed News* and *The Wall Street Journal*, which used AI to analyse vast datasets, revealing public health risks from lead cables in New Jersey and significant patterns in the Mauritius Leaks.
AI in Nigerian Media: Rising to the Challenge
Professor Farooq Kperogi and I recently authored a study, *Light in a Digital Blackhole*, in the *Journal of Applied Journalism and Media Studies*.
The study shows that Nigerian media is increasingly incorporating AI in newsrooms, with tools like Echobox and Hootsuite driving engagement and revenue.
Despite infrastructural challenges, younger journalists are embracing AI faster than their older counterparts, reflecting a generational shift.
Concerns about job losses are overstated; while AI reshapes journalism, human creativity and oversight remain essential.
However, as audiences shift and revenue patterns evolve, Nigerian journalists must adapt, re-skill, and embrace technology to stay relevant.
The Road Ahead
As AI continues to evolve, the destination of journalism is uncertain.
Yet, whether future lectures are delivered by humans or chatbots, the aim remains the same: to inform, engage, and adapt storytelling for an increasingly digital world.
