Many journalists in Bangladesh are using artificial intelligence (AI) in their individual work, but institutional use in newsroom operations remains nominal, a new assessment has found.

The assessment titled “Media Metamorphosis: AI and Bangladesh Newsrooms 2024” is the result of a survey of 53 journalists from 25 news outlets, along with focus group discussions (FGDs) and key informant interviews (KIIs) involving 13 editors and managers from newsrooms in print, television and online news platforms, read a press release.

The assessment is part of a Media Resource Development Initiative (MRDI) initiative supported by Digitally Right and funded by the Asia Foundation to understand AI usage patterns, address ethical concerns and identify needs and gaps for improved adoption of AI in Bangladesh. news media.

Today (October 26) a meeting was held at The Daily Star building in Dhaka to share the results of the assessment titled “Evaluation of AI Integration in Bangladesh News Media”. The program was attended by editors, editors, heads of online platforms of news institutions, journalists, academics, fact checkers and representatives of CSOs and the development sector.

Miraj Ahmed Chowdhury, Managing Director of Digitally Right and Maliha Tabassum, Assistant Professor in the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism at Bangladesh Professional University, jointly presented the evaluation results at the program.

The survey finds that 51% of journalists have used AI tools in their individual work, but institutional use is much lower at just 20%. Among those using AI, ChatGPT is the most popular tool with a usage rate of 78%, followed by Grammarly (52%) and Google Translate (44%). Other tools include Canva (37%), Google Gemini (19%), DALL-E and Adobe Sensei (15% each), and Midjourney, Tableau, Factmata and Turnitin (7% each), along with 11% using other tools.

The main use of AI in news media is to improve grammar and writing style with a combined usage rate of 52%. Journalists using AI rely mainly on it for content enhancement and fact-checking. After improving grammar, doing research and background checks come second at 48%.

In his welcome speech, Hasibur Rahman, Executive Director of MRDI, said that this initiative seeks to understand the current patterns of use of artificial intelligence in newsrooms in Bangladesh and explore future possibilities as part of one of MRDI’s strategic objectives to support news media in their digital transformation.

Miraj Ahmed Chowdhury, in his presentation, highlighted the importance of ethical and responsible use of AI, the role of transparency through disclosure and the need for organizational policies governing AI applications. He also addressed the lack of structured AI integration in newsrooms in Bangladesh and the potential to integrate AI into daily workflows.

During the survey, about two-thirds of participants found that using AI increased their efficiency and improved the quality of content, while 52% reported that it reduced their workload. Half of the participants believe that AI will significantly improve the quality of their journalism in the future.

In terms of associated concerns, the assessment finds that concerns about AI causing job losses are moderate, with most participants rating it 3 out of 5. However, there is strong concern that over-reliance on AI may reduce thinking critical and may affect the reliability of the content.

The assessment highlighted that journalists show a strong resistance to technological change, especially AI perceiving it as a threat rather than a tool that creates a self-imposed barrier that prevents innovation in newsrooms. Additional challenges include surface-level understanding, a focus on outcomes over process, a lack of understanding about incorporating AI into workflows and guidelines, and a fear of making mistakes that overshadows the drive to innovate.

Regarding ethical use, however, most participants said they were not aware of the level of awareness of the ethical use of AI, revealing participants’ unfamiliarity with global or industry-specific guidelines governing the ethical use of AI in journalism. Journalists surveyed pointed out that major barriers to the ethical adoption of AI include insufficient training and support (85%), lack of understanding of AI (74%), budget constraints (47%) and the absence of clear ethical guidelines (45%).

In an open discussion today as part of the Finding the Share meeting, participants shared their experiences with AI discussing both its benefits and concerns associated with its use. A common challenge from the newsroom was management’s verbal support and commitment to AI adoption, but lukewarm response in funding. The credibility of AI-generated content and its audience acceptance were also discussed.

They suggested implementing an outreach policy for the use of AI and creating internal guidelines, incorporating AI topics into existing university courses until a dedicated curriculum can be established, and highlighting opportunities for AI beyond content creation, such as in traffic management website, targeted advertising and SEO optimization. .

To change mindsets and present AI as a catalyst for newsroom evolution, the assessment recommends developing comprehensive guidelines, establishing transparent AI disclosure, implementing robust training programs, and modernizing journalism education.