By Fatimah Idera

Experts have highlighted the inevitability of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the media industry, hence, stressing the need for media organisations to adopt it responsibly.

At the AI and Media Summit 2024, organised by the Centre for Journalism Innovations and Development (CJID) as part of the Media and Development Conference to celebrate its 10th anniversary in Abuja, the experts emphasised the urgency for media houses to adopt AI-driven tools and technologies to make their operations effective and efficient.

The summit, which was part of the Media and Development Conference 2024, brought together professionals from various fields to discuss how AI can be harnessed for media innovation and societal advancement.

Discussions at the summit centred on the need for media organisations to see AI as a partner in improving efficiency and content quality.

The experts, who spoke at the event, warned that failing to integrate AI could render traditional media outlets obsolete in an increasingly competitive and tech-driven industry.

They, however, called for responsible adoption, ensuring that human input and oversight remain integral to the process.

Zara Schroeder from Research ICT Africa stressed the importance of accountability and ethical practices in AI usage within the media. Legal experts also weighed in, with Saadatu Hamu Aliyu, Managing Partner at Hamu Legal, advocating for clear regulations to guide AI adoption and prevent misuse.

Joshua Olufemi from Dataphyte urged stakeholders to develop AI tools that drive value and attract public interest, emphasising the potential for AI to generate revenue while enhancing audience engagement.

Idris Akinbajo, Managing Editor of Premium Times, highlighted the critical need for adaptability in the media industry. He noted that AI should be viewed as a tool to enhance journalism, not replace it, warning, “The media landscape is evolving rapidly; organisations that resist change risk irrelevance.”

The experts that spoke at the summit called on media professionals to embrace AI-driven solutions to tackle societal challenges and advance the role of journalism in an evolving world.

They added that media houses must shed any resistance to change and leverage AI’s transformative potential to remain relevant and impactful in the modern media ecosystem.