The current era is witnessing widespread discussions about the new features of artificial intelligence (AI) across all sectors. Although the application of AI in journalism is still in its nascent stages, global media outlets are increasingly utilising it to assist in tasks such as news and image collection, verification, editing and exploring ways in which it can further enrich the world of journalism in the future. At the same time, there is ongoing debate among global media organisations and journalists about how much AI should be integrated into newsrooms and journalism in general, and how to ensure that its use remains ethically sound.

Bangladesh finds itself significantly behind in this regard. As with most technological advancements, the adoption of AI in journalism here has been slower here. Apart from limited applications like ChatGPT and translation tools, AI is yet to see widespread use in Bangladesh's media landscape. Given the limited usage, discussions about future plans involving AI in journalism remain largely irrelevant at this stage and there has been little debate about creating policies or addressing the ethical concerns surrounding AI in journalism.

Let's take a look at the global media landscape and see what's happening with AI. 

According to a survey published by the World Association of News Publishers in May, more than half of newsrooms worldwide are already using generative AI tools like ChatGPT. Renowned international outlets such as Reuters, The New York Times, Associated Press (AP), The Guardian, and Forbes have been incorporating AI technology into their news production processes for several years. According to the Tow Center report, several U.S. media outlets are using AI for fact-checking and verifying the accuracy of news. 

According to the Global Investigative Journalism Network, AP uses NewsWhip to track social media trends and boost audience engagement. Many outlets, including The Guardian, employ bots for Facebook Messenger. In short, AI is being vigorously tested and integrated into various facets of journalism worldwide.

This experimentation has raised several crucial questions, such as what the future of AI in journalism holds, how ethical the use of AI in journalism is and what kind of AI policies media organisations should adopt. One of the primary concerns regarding the ethical use of AI in journalism is that AI will yield results based on the inputs it receives from humans, as it is essentially human-made. Since humans inherently possess biases, it is unrealistic to expect AI-generated data to be completely free of bias. 

One ethical issue that requires attention is the need for transparency and respect for personal privacy, as AI technology typically collects and analyses vast amounts of personal data. Another concern among others is, if the content is AI-generated, making sure to inform the audience. To address these various challenges, many prominent international media organisations have already established their own AI policies and are regularly updating them.  

Now, let's turn to the use of AI in Bangladeshi newsrooms. While the world at large is preoccupied with the ethics and challenges of AI, Bangladesh has yet to make decisions even at the initial stage of adopting AI in media. When discussing the large-scale use of AI in Bangladeshi journalism, one prominent example that comes to mind is the debut of an AI news presenter on a TV channel earlier this year. However, this occurred only once, and there remains considerable room for improvement in this area.

A study titled "Media Metamorphosis: AI and Bangladeshi Newsrooms 2024," conducted by the Media Resources Development Initiative (MRDI) with the support of Digital Rights and funding from the Asia Foundation, reveals some intriguing findings. According to the survey, more than half (51%) of the journalists who participated have used AI in their work. However, the formal usage of AI in newsrooms remains quite low (20%). Among journalists who use AI, the most popular tool is ChatGPT, with a usage rate of 78%. The survey also shows that nearly two-thirds of the participants believe AI has improved their efficiency and the quality of their content. Fifty-two percent feel that AI has helped reduce their workload. Furthermore, half of the participants expressed optimism that AI will significantly enhance the quality of journalism in the future.

In summary, while AI use in Bangladesh's journalism sector remains limited, the experience so far has been positive for the journalists who have used it.

However, the study also highlights various concerns journalists have regarding AI. One of the primary concerns is that journalists view technological changes, particularly AI, as a threat that hinders their creativity and innovation. The most significant worry, however, is that the majority of journalists are unaware of the ethical implications of AI. Among the major barriers to ethical AI usage identified in the survey are the lack of proper training and support (85%), a lack of understanding about AI (74%), budget constraints (47%), and the absence of clear ethical guidelines (45%).

Overall, integrating AI into Bangladeshi journalism on a large scale is a challenging task at present, which can be seen from this survey. First, most media houses in Bangladesh lack the budget, capacity, and strategic plans necessary for effective AI implementation. There is also a lack of capability to develop training programmes or establish proper policies. Many journalists either have little understanding of AI or are not ready to embrace it. In a situation where most journalists have not even received adequate training or support, and where many lack basic knowledge of AI, it is certain that maintaining ethical standards will be another significant challenge. When many media outlets in Bangladesh already exhibit issues such as a lack of gender sensitivity, frequent publication of children's identities, little awareness of copyright and instances where satire from one media is presented as serious news by another, it is clear that Bangladesh is far from being prepared to ensure the ethical use of AI in its media.

However, the reality is that whether we are fully ready to adopt technology or not, it will inevitably evolve and gain popularity due to its inherent advantages. This holds true for the use of AI in journalism as well.  Whether sooner or later, AI will inevitably become a part of journalism in Bangladesh. Therefore, it would be wise to start embracing it now, in line with global trends, to stay ahead and make the most of its potential. The challenges that exist along this path should be identified and addressed, and ethical considerations must be carefully thought through and decided upon at this stage.

When discussing the challenges in this context, the foremost issues are the lack of knowledge and training on AI, as well as budget constraints. In the Bangladeshi context, addressing these issues may be difficult for many media outlets. However, if long-term benefits are to be realised, and if news quality is to be improved while reducing workload, it is essential for Bangladeshi media to invest in these areas. Additionally, attention must be given to implementing editorial policies and establishing internal AI guidelines. These policies must be strictly adhered to, and it is crucial to ensure that journalists fully comprehend the potential risks and ethical dilemmas posed by AI, so they understand the consequences of violating ethical standards. Prestigious universities like Stanford University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have already launched courses on AI journalism. While this may still be a challenge for Bangladeshi universities, it will be necessary to consider introducing such courses in the future, along with focusing on research in this field.

Views expressed in this article are the author's own.