AI technology will not be able to completely take over journalists' jobs

KUALA LUMPUR: Artificial intelligence (AI) technology which is anticipated to replace humans in performing some tasks, will not be able to completely take over human jobs, especially in journalism.

TV Alhijrah chief executive officer Namanzee Harris said humans have a special ability to make humanistic assessments and judgments which the AI did not possess.

Hence, he said the media industry and journalists themselves need to understand AI technology as soon as possible to help and make it easier for them to carry out their respective tasks.

"AI technology will help make something to be effective and the decision to make it effective is probably programmed (by humans). So, I think that there is no way machines can replace human tasks entirely.

"Machine learning is programmed by us (humans), they are very limited in their reactions to situations. Humans, on the other hand, are blessed with brains to evaluate what's good and what's bad, so we are still superior," he said in the Bernama Radio's Jendela Fikir programme for the National Journalists' Day (HAWANA) 2023 today.

The programme which discussed the Revolution of Broadcasting in Malaysia, ASEAN and The World also featured Media Prima Bhd Television Networks Group Editor of News and Current Affairs Kamaruddin Mape who said that the conventional media industry needs to take the challenge of the social media boom as a motivation to move forward in line with current technology.

He said the mainstream media is still a valid source of reference for authentic news material despite being affected by social media that allows information to be accessed from various channels.

"We should look at this (social media challenge) positively and we need to be more advanced than the social media. The public can distinguish the broadcasting integrity of conventional media and social media, so the mainstream media still has the advantage," he said.

The HAWANA 2023 celebration will be held in Ipoh, Perak, from May 27 to 29 with the theme Media Bebas, Tunjang Demokrasi (Free Media, Pillar of Democracy) to re-emphasise the issue of media freedom for journalists in carrying out their duties.

Various activities have been lined up for HAWANA 2023, including a media forum involving journalists from ASEAN member countries, a mini carnival, a treasure hunt and a bowling competition.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is scheduled to grace the highlight of the celebration on May 28.

The date May 29 was gazetted as National Journalists' Day in conjunction with the publication of the first edition of the Malay newspaper, Utusan Melayu, on May 29, 1939.

-- BERNAMA