Yesterday, the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) wrapped up its Journalism, Digital Tech, and AI Dialogue, a collaborative effort of the Centre, Luminate, and Google News Initiative.
As a way explore the revolutionary potential of digital technology, artificial intelligence, and its confluence with journalism, the event gathered together key players from the media, CSO, and tech sectors. The conversation generated creative ideas for using AI in news reporting and storytelling, as well as opportunities for industry-wide growth and cooperation.
The Vice President, Africa at Luminate, as well as the ambassadors of Belgium, Spain, Norway, and Finland to Nigeria, among others, delivered goodwill messages to kick off the Dialogue. They also offered insights into the opportunities and drawbacks that could arise from the application of generative AI in journalism in the future.
The Dubawa Audio Platform and Dubawa Chat Bot, two artificial intelligence (AI) tools that the Center has been building for more than 18 months, were unveiled by CJID during the event. The Center expects that the tools will transform African media, journalism, and fact-checking practices.
Other AI tools developed by tech innovators to enhance media practices were also presented. The tools include Podus AI by Citizen Gavel, which offers users valuable legal insights and personalised guidance, helping them navigate complex legal matters and write petitions; ChatVE, which addresses the threat of disinformation on X by providing quick conversational information and assisting users in debunking false claims; and Nubia AI powered by Dataphyte, which processes years of journalistic data to create exceptional work and data-driven stories.
“With AI, tasks that were once tedioius become streamliuned and efficient,” stated Nelson Olanipekun, CEO of Citizen Gavel, says about the way AI is revolutionizing how information is understood and processed.
Today, CJID held two major events in response to yesterday’s AI in Journalism Dialogue and the introduction of AI tools:
- A public convening on the amended Cybercrime Act and its implications for freedom of the press. Media professionals, legal experts, and civil society leaders shared ideas on how to collaborate to protect the civic space. It was also an opportunity to recruit new members to CJID’s press freedom coalition.
- Induction of 15 AI in Journalism Fellows—a mix of journalists, data analysts, and technologists who will be building #AItools to improve media and civil society practice. They will be paired with mentors as they begin their five-month-long fellowship to build MVPs that CJID will fund. It is hoped that from today, they will turn their ideas into products that will turn things around in the industry.
In closing the Journalism, Digital Tech, and AI Dialogue yesterday, Dapo Olorunyomi, CEO of CJID, reiterated the Center’s pledge to see to it that all topics covered in the debate are documented and turned into learning products that the general public may access.
