The West Africa Journalism Innovation Conference (WAJIC) held in Abuja, Nigeria, emphasized the need for journalists and media professionals to embrace the ethical use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in newsrooms. The conference brought together over 400 media professionals, journalists, policymakers, and media rights advocates from various countries.

Experts encouraged attendees to leverage AI for increased newsroom productivity. For instance, Dataphyte, a Nigerian data journalism firm, has developed Nubia, an AI-powered reporter that auto-creates development reports and data insights.

While the rise of AI has led to concerns about misinformation and deep fakes, experts advocated for using AI to counter AI. They emphasized that AI can be harnessed to spot and combat deep fakes and misinformation.

The use of AI in newsrooms is seen as an opportunity to drive efficiency and reach broader audiences. However, experts stressed that the ethical considerations of journalism should always guide the use of AI. Journalists were urged to fact-check and maintain ethical standards in their reporting, even when utilizing AI tools.

One concern highlighted during the conference was the lack of financing for the adoption of AI and other technologies in African newsrooms. Despite this challenge, the potential for AI to enhance journalism and drive positive change in the industry was recognized.

In conclusion, the conference emphasized that the intersection of technology and journalism can lead to innovative and efficient reporting, but ethical considerations and the human component should always guide its implementation.

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