Combining AI strengths and ethics essential for accurate press
Mpanga was recently speaking to journalists during a Media Breakfast Training and Launch of Africa Statistics Week at Uganda Bureau of Statistics.
Balancing the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in media reporting requires careful consideration of its benefits, opportunities, and risks, Yvonne Mpanga, a Business Development Consultant and Associate Lecturer at Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU) & Uganda Management Institute (UMI), reveals.
She explained that the opportunities, benefits and risks of relying on Artificial Intelligence in media reporting are immense.
“Journalists must be quick to adapt and adopt automated quick data analytic tools in news reporting especially in preparation of census of 2024,” she said, emphasizing that journalists must combine the strengths of AI with human expertise, ethical considerations of these technologies notwithstanding.
Mpanga was recently speaking to journalists during a Media Breakfast Training and Launch of Africa Statistics Week at Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS). The Africa Statistics Week carried a series of activities that led to the Africa Statistics Day celebrated on 18th November every year.
The Theme for this year’s celebrations was “Modernizing data ecosystems to accelerate the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA): the role of Official Statistics and Big Data in economic transformation and sustainable development of Africa.”
Mpanga further revealed that remarkable AI benefits include automation, quick data analysis, personalization of news and fact checking for news reporting. She said Artificial Intelligence opportunities include enhanced storytelling, analyzing of multimedia, and audience engagement among others.
But like any good innovation, Mpanga said Artificial Intelligence comes with risks. These include bias and unfairness in reporting, misleading information and ethical issues, such as the responsible use of technology, privacy concerns, and the potential of misuse.
“Combining the strengths of AI with human expertise and ethical considerations is essential to harness the full potential of these technologies while ensuring responsible and accurate media reporting,” she noted.
