Pan-Africa Center For AI Ethics’ Post

My 3weeks So Far I had the same unfavorable opinion of artificial intelligence's use in journalism as everyone else. Because I believed that many traditionalists from the newsrooms would be forced into the streets. A few weeks after submitting my application, I was chosen for the FactCheckAfrica AI Journalism Fellowship from among the top journalists and communication specialists in West Africa. As my curiosity about my beliefs regarding AI in newsrooms kept me up at night, I eagerly await the start of this new professional journey. Due to my phone's extremely low Read Access Memory, it was very challenging for me to attend the Zoom meeting during the first week. As part of my mission to become an expert on artificial intelligence, I had to travel to my friend Mokola's house to borrow his phone so I could participate in the sessions. I learned about AI's bias during the onboarding session, which also made it clear to me why Africans must be involved in its development. I was able to learn more about David Caswell's practical use of generative AI in the ensuing weeks. He mentioned that journalists ought to have the ability to evaluate any results that an AI system produces. Also, Dr. Marie Elisabeth Müller listed all AI tools useful for each department in the newsrooms, and displayed their usefulness, which I have been using in area of researh, rephrasing and data generation. Walid AL-SAQAF provided justification for the use of fair and moral AI practices in newsrooms. With this, I believe AI is here to stay journalism. FactCheckAfrica should make the forthcoming edition on-site. Olasupo Abideen #AIjournalismfellowship #AIinJournalism #FutureofJournalism #TechInMedia #JournalismInnovation

💫 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐥 𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐈 𝐉𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐦: 𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐉𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐭 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚 𝐅𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 🔥   🚀 Exciting times ahead! For the past three weeks, I've been immersed in the groundbreaking FactCheckAfrica AI Journalism Fellowship, and the experience has been life-changing! 💥   This innovative initiative equips journalists across West Africa with skills to ethically utilize AI in combating disinformation. 🌍   The journey kicked off with an inspiring keynote from Gregory Gondwe, PhD , underscoring AI's potential in countering disinformation while upholding journalistic integrity. 🕵️♂️   Laurens Vreekamp, Founder of Future Journalism Today Academy, led an impactful discussion on developing effective AI plans for news organizations. 📝 We explored his book "The Art of AI" and a demo showcasing Gemini 1.5 Pro's capabilities in revolutionizing newsrooms through enhanced storytelling and efficiency.   David Caswell, StoryFlow Ltd Founder, provided insights into Generative AI's applications in journalism, illuminating how AI can streamline processes, elevate content quality, and reshape practices to enhance fact-checking. 💻   We delved into ethical considerations with experts like Walid AL-SAQAF, engaging in thought-provoking discussions on AI's challenges in journalism. 🤔 These conversations, coupled with Douglas Ng's insights on human oversight in AI, reinforced upholding integrity and combating misinformation.   Dr. Marie Elisabeth Müller's practical applications of Generative AI were particularly enlightening, providing hands-on insights to impact my journalism practice positively. 💡   Another session facilitated by Camilla Bath was a beautiful experience ! Her insights into AI in journalism were invaluable, highlighting how ethical and responsible AI implementation can transform our media industry. Learning from exceptional leaders in the field has instilled confidence that my practice will be significantly enhanced. 🏆 Their guidance is invaluable as we navigate AI's intersection with journalism, especially in our mission to combat disinformation effectively.   In an era where disinformation threatens trust and discourse, this fellowship is timely and indispensable. ⏰ It ensures AI is introduced responsibly, upholding integrity, promoting ethical practices, and enhancing information quality.   I eagerly anticipate continuing this transformative journey, applying insights to innovate in the newsroom and contribute meaningfully to journalism's future, particularly in fighting disinformation.   #AIJournalism #FactCheckAfrica #Disinformation #Fasocheck #EthicalAI #Journalism #MediaTechnology #FutureOfJournalism Cc: Prudence Emudianughe Mustapha Lawal (thanks to You for the brilliant management of this programme 👍🏿 )

𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬: 𝐌𝐲 𝐉𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚 𝐀𝐈 𝐉𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐦 𝐅𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 It has been three weeks since my acceptance into the FactCheckAfrica AI Journalism Fellowship. I am excited to announce that the journey has been transformative. This life-changing experience has completely eroded the negative perspective I had about the use of AI. Before the training, I had negative thoughts about the use of AI because, in my country, politicians used it during the last election period for propaganda and election misinformation and disinformation. This made the population, including many journalists with knowledge and basic training about the technology; develop a negative perspective about its use. Thanks to FactCheck Africa for this opportunity and to our inspiring lecturers for equipping us with the relevant skills to utilize in the fight against information disorder. At the start of our journey, Gregory Gondwe, PhD., presented the keynote address, which underscored AI's potential in countering disinformation while upholding journalistic principles. Our facilitators have been exceptional in their presentations; one of them is David Caswell, the founder of StoryFlow Ltd, who led us into the practical applications of generative AI for journalists. During her presentation, Dr. Marie Elisabeth Müller, a managing editor, editorial consultant, and educator of digital journalism and communications, illustrated various generative AI tools for multimedia journalists, significantly impacting our journey today. Developing AI plans for news organizations was another important topic, presented by Laurens Vreekamp, founder of Future Journalism Today Academy. During this session, the fellows were divided into various groups, and each group developed an AI plan for a news organization and made a presentation. As I conclude, my experience over the past weeks with the AI Journalism Fellowship has been amazing, I look forward to more intriguing topics ahead in this life-changing journey. #AIjournalismfellowship #AIinJournalism #FutureofJournalism #TechInMedia #JournalismInnovation

Google AI in Africa: Powering Innovation on the Continent Imagine a future where every African child can access cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) tools. These tools could change their education, healthcare, and life quality. With its strategic plans and partnerships across Africa, Google is making this vision real. 80% of African countries are now using AI in their development plans, which shows a major technology change. Google is doing more than just numbers. It’s investing in research centers, working with local universities, and supporting new applications. These efforts are set to change industries in Africa. Google’s work in Africa could change healthcare, agriculture, education, and more. The impact of Google’s AI efforts in Africa is amazing Key Takeaways: 1) Google is leading the charge in driving AI-powered innovation in Africa, with 80% of African countries integrating AI solutions into their national development plans. 2) The tech giant is investing heavily in research centers, university partnerships, and the development of transformative applications across various sectors. 3) Google’s AI initiatives in Africa have the potential to revolutionize healthcare, agriculture, education, and more, creating a brighter future for African communities. Read Full Article Here: www.aiafricatrends.news

It's no exaggeration to say we had the best facilitator to speak on the 'Practical Applications of Generative AI for Journalists' in Dr. Marie Elisabeth Müller! Thank you for making the session so engaging and practical. The positive feedback from our Fellows speaks volumes about the quality of the session. We appreciate your support and amplification! #AIJournalism #GenerativeAI #FactCheckAfrica #JournalismInnovation #DigitalJournalism #AIInMedia

"People want to know what is happening in their communities, that's where the media comes in," as uttered by the CEO BBC worldwide, Tim Davie on Tuesday morning ahead of his public discussion on the "Future of Journalism in Africa" at the UoN Towers, Chandaria Auditorium. On Artificial Intelligence (AI). _"There are trust related risks, this has had a lot of impact. We are better placed because the audience trusts our services." _"There are good things about AI. These include translating into more languages. We can potentially make things easy to understand through AI." This in-person indoor chat was a precursor to the public lecture open for journalism students, journalists, facilitators, media trainers and lecturers from various institutions. The event will be moderated by the senior lead presenter BBC News Focus on Africa, Waihiga Mwaura. The discussion will position the participants to engage with the BBC editorial leaders, share ideas with experienced journalists, connect theory with real world experiences and network for future engagement. #Privileged.

Yesterday, our AI Journalism Fellows engaged in a thought-provoking group activity led by Walid AL-SAQAF, Associate Professor in Journalism and Senior Lecturer in Media Technology at Södertörn University. Each group presented on unique ethical challenges posed by AI in journalism. Group 1 discussed how AI-generated news articles can replicate biased information due to skewed training data. Group 2 explored the ethical dilemmas faced by journalists using AI to analyse social media trends, particularly concerning privacy and consent. Group 3 highlighted the public backlash from AI-generated images mistakenly portraying individuals not involved in the news. Group 4 tackled the ethical boundaries challenged by deepfake videos of public figures. Lastly, Group 5 examined the potential for AI to create echo chambers in personalised news feeds, affecting public opinion without transparency. These presentations underscored the necessity of ethical and equitable AI practices in journalism, as emphasised by the facilitator. Cc: David Caswell, Dr. Marie Elisabeth Müller, Camilla Bath, Douglas Ng, Laurens Vreekamp, Makhosi Sibanda, Paul Bradshaw, Nikita Roy, Muhammed Akinyemi, Stephen Quinn, Sam Guzik, Erin Hattersley, Karla Palmer, Joel Straker, Brigitte Hoyer Gosselink, Shiri Sivan, Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani. #AIJournalism #MediaInnovation #FactCheckAfrica #JournalismTraining #DigitalTransformation

Factcheck Africa AI Journalism Fellow PART 2: Over the past month, the ongoing Factcheck Africa AI Journalism Fellow program has been a transformative experience, fundamentally reshaping my understanding of AI’s role in journalism. The impact has been profound. Laurens Vreekmap, the founder of the Future Journalism Today Academy, delivered an outstanding session. He spoke on developing effective AI implementation plans for news organizations, addressing the challenges and illustrating how each tool can meet specific operational needs. My primary takeaway was learning about new AI tools that can enhance newsroom productivity, accuracy, and engagement through streamlined workflows, bias detection, improved research capabilities, and captivating multimedia storytelling platforms. Data Journalist Stephane Ohumu spoke on utilizing AI for data analysis and visualization in journalism. She warned us not to rely on ChatGPT due to privacy concerns, explaining that prompts used on ChatGPT contribute to building future models. She advised us to build and use local AI models to boost African data and safeguard our information. Future and Product Strategist Sam Guzik shared creative ways to enhance audience interaction using AI. He took us on a historical journey, tracing the evolution of printing technology from its 15th-century origins to its modern-day impact on media. He highlighted the transformative effects of mechanization, steam presses, and the rise of wire services like the Associated Press. The advent of radio and television was also discussed, showcasing how these innovations have shaped media consumption and storytelling. Delving into the current landscape, Sam explained how generative AI reshapes traditional media business models and user behaviours. His key takeaway: "News is too important to assume everything is fine." Award-winning journalist and founder of SIRAJ, Ali al Ibrahim, spoke on ensuring ethical and equitable AI practices in journalism. He discussed the benefits and challenges of AI, underscoring the importance of transparency, verification, and ethical guidelines. Ali emphasized that while AI is a powerful tool for data analysis and investigative reporting, it must be complemented by human skills for accurate interpretation and fact-checking. He reiterated that AI can enhance our storytelling but must be used cautiously to avoid misinformation and disinformation. #AIjournalismfellowship #AIinJournalism #FutureofJournalism #TechInMedia #JournalismInnovation FactCheckAfricaPrudence EmudianugheMustapha Lawal Olasupo Abideen

Want to level up your AI journalism game? The Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY is launching two new AI Journalism Labs in 2025! 🚀 As a coach in this year's lab, I can say firsthand: it's A+ for developing AI skills in journalism. - Best speakers, great group discussions; - Focus on experimentation & prototyping It truly empowers journalists to use AI, not fear it Marie Gilot says it best: "We hear the word ‘scary’ used a lot in connection with AI, which is not very helpful. We created the labs to empower journalists not to be afraid of this new technology but to experiment with it, apply it to their news careers and become part of the conversation." I strongly encourage you to apply: https://lnkd.in/gdrUQm-D #AIJournalism #CUNYJSchool #MediaInnovation

When you think about AI in journalism, do you see a future of doom or opportunity? The Open Society Foundations recently conducted a fascinating scenario-planning exercise on AI's impact on journalism over the next 5-15 years. What strikes me most is the prevailing sense of doom. Are we at a stage where we feel we'll only be impacted by AI, rather than shaping its integration? My take: It's crucial for newsrooms to empower journalists as active participants in this change. We need to shift from passive observers to innovative adopters. Key observations: • Near-unanimous agreement: AI will fundamentally transform journalism • Widespread difficulty in articulating how this transformation will unfold • "Most participants expressed significant doubt that the legacy news and journalism industry will successfully adapt to an AI-mediated information ecosystem." • Focus on power dynamics: Journalists more focused on power shifts, technologists on audience value • "Many participants expressed fatigue, exhaustion, or resignation at the burgeoning AI onslaught, and there was a shared sense of a lack of agency to shape a future information ecosystem dominated by AI." As David Caswell and Shuwei Fang conclude, "We can engage and renew, imagine and build. We can seek to use these new tools to serve our audiences, our communities, and our societies, in new ways and perhaps with better outcomes." I couldn't agree more. The future of AI in journalism isn't set in stone - it's ours to shape. What's your vision for AI in journalism? How can we turn this perceived threat into an opportunity? #AIinJournalism #MediaFuture #DigitalTransformation