Experts urge Nepali media to embrace AI for development

KATHMANDU: Experts in the field of communication participating in the 'National AI Conference, 2081', organised by the Digital Media Foundation in Kathmandu on Saturday, viewed that Nepali media houses should increase the use of artificial intelligence (AI).

The AI-powered speech welcomed the participants and shed light on the objectives of the programme. The AI platform — ChatGPT — welcomed Finance Minister Pun as well as other guests at the event.

Addressing the programme, Finance Minister Barsha Man Pun said the government has accorded top priority to policy stability and infrastructural progress for the development and expansion of information technology (IT).

He viewed that although AI is regarded as a grave challenge to human civilisation, it could also be taken as a new stage of the industrial revolution. He warned that if Nepal does not adopt such modern IT including AI, we would lag behind.

Speaking at a session titled 'The Future of Media: AI Innovation in Global and Local Context', experts in the field of communication argued that AI has not been used in Nepali media houses due to economic, social, and political reasons.

AI expert Bibek Poudel said that IT and AI would play an important role in implementing government policy. He explained, "AI could be used in infrastructure construction, agriculture, service delivery, health, and education for significant results. The economy and employment generation are other areas that require the use of AI."

President of Digital Media Foundation, Prabesh Subedi, complained that IT development was weak in Nepal. An atmosphere for international competition in IT is a present need, he added.

Mass communication scholar Prof Dr Bhanubhakta Acharya viewed that the use of AI could enhance human capacity. He remarked, "AI tools can be easily used in the media for cross-verification, headline matching, and many other tasks. It should be used in media houses." He suggested that newsrooms should invest in AI and use it to its full potential.

Prof Dr Sudan Jha from the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at Kathmandu University (KU) said that it is important for media to be sensitive in content delivery and added that AI can be used in fact-checking and for knowledge.

Likewise, Editor-in-chief of Onlinekhabar, Shiva Gaunle, said that there is limited use of AI in Nepali media houses. He insisted that AI will not affect the profession of journalists and argued that using AI will increase our competitive ability as it assists with background content. AI can help make human resources capable.