Malaysia Allocates $6.35M to Integrate AI in Journalism

Journalism worldwide is rapidly integrating artificial intelligence (AI) to transform news production and combat challenges like misinformation. Malaysia has committed US$6.35 million to digitize media outlets, incorporating AI and blockchain, alongside launching an AI fact-checking chatbot to fight fake news, reflecting a governmental push for credible and modernized reporting. Meanwhile, global news publishers face existential threats as AI chatbots like Google's AI Overviews reduce traffic to news websites by summarizing content directly, raising concerns about media sustainability. Journalists grapple with ethical issues such as transparency, bias, and job displacement, emphasizing the need for global standards to maintain trust and integrity in AI-generated news. In the Philippines, Google’s News AI Lab offers an 18-month program to empower journalists and newsrooms with AI tools, promoting innovation in the evolving media landscape. Despite challenges including political interference, safety threats, and AI complexities, industry leaders like RTDNA’s Dan Shelley remain optimistic, advocating for careful AI oversight and reaffirming journalism’s vital role in democracy.