NITDA DG to Media: Deploy AI for fact-checking, not replacing journalists

The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, has urged media organisations to deploy artificial intelligence (AI) to verify information and strengthen public trust.

Abdullahi spoke on Thursday at the official unveiling of the Media Trust Group’s converged newsroom, where he emphasised the need for ethical and responsible use of AI in journalism.

He said the greatest contribution of AI to newsrooms should not be the speed of breaking news but its ability to help journalists authenticate information and combat the growing difficulty of distinguishing genuine content from fabricated material.

“We should make sure we are not using AI to replace people. AI is a tool that can enhance what we do. Therefore, for us, the greatest contribution AI can give to the newsroom is not generating faster breaking news, but helping people believe what they see,” he said.

The NITDA director-general noted that advances in AI had made it increasingly difficult for members of the public to determine the authenticity of images, videos and other digital content.

He said manipulated content could make people appear to say or do things they had never said or done, creating challenges for journalists and media organisations seeking to provide credible information.

“Today, it is difficult to believe anything you see. People can take anybody’s picture to get him speaking or doing things, which makes it difficult for people to believe what they see,” he said.

Abdullahi urged journalists to make verification a priority before publishing or amplifying information, noting that the media had a critical role to play in helping the public navigate the growing volume of digital content.

“What people are looking for from people like you in the media, journalists, is to make sure you authenticate everything before amplifying it,” he said.

He expressed confidence that the Media Trust Group would deploy AI tools to improve verification, clarify information and strengthen the credibility of its news reports.

“I believe you are going to use AI in your newsroom for clarification, for amplifying authenticity, and for letting people trust what they see,” he said.