AI and digitilisation a ‘game-changer’ for local media

AI and digitilisation a ‘game-changer’ for local media – Pres. Ali

May 04, 2025 News

Kaieteur News- The use of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technology in keeping with international standards will prove to be a game-changer for the local media, once used responsibly, President Irfaan Ali said on Saturday.

The president was at the time speaking at a World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) brunch held at State House, Georgetown.

AI and digitilisation a ‘game-changer’ for local media – Pres. Ali

President Irfaan Ali

He told the gathering of media professionals, diplomats and members of government that the local media must position itself in the era of AI and digitalisation. The Head of State stressed that Guyana must not be left behind during this very advanced global transformation.

President Ali said to embrace AI and digital technology, particularly digitilisation, there is a need for the Caribbean Bloc, CARICOM (The Caribbean Community), to confront the changing dynamics of media collectively.

The President disclosed that he will be presenting a paper on the subject at the next CARICOM meeting with the aim of creating a unified path to manage AI’s disruptive influence in journalism and public information.

“We must pursue a common path, because we don’t have the capacity individually to do this,” President Ali stated, emphasizing the need for regulatory frameworks that ensure AI is used ethically and responsibly in media contexts.

He said too that AI tools now enable individuals with little professional training to produce and disseminate content, which raises complex questions about accountability and truth.

President Ali said that traditional concepts of journalism are being overturned by citizen reporters and social media commentary, which he described as a “reporting mechanism” in itself. He cautioned that while this evolution allows for broader participation in discourse, it also introduces ethical dilemmas around misinformation and sensationalism.

Media workers who received awards at the World Press Freedom 2025 brunch.

Despite these challenges, the President expressed admiration for Guyana’s “young, vibrant media family” and urged them to see themselves as key players in the redefinition of journalism.

He called on the media to uphold fairness, professionalism, and accuracy, particularly in the lead-up to the country’s General and Regional Elections.

“Report fairly, honestly, openly,” he urged. “The responsibility you bear is immense, and it is vital that you take it seriously.”

“Our democracy depends not only on the freedom of the press but also on the ethical standards by which it operates,” he said while warning against media being used as a “tool for the perversion or distortion of news.”

Additionally, President Ali called for the integration of AI and digital tools into national development policies within 12 months, noting that such technologies now affect every sphere of public life — from policing to crisis communication.

Meanwhile, several longstanding media professionals were honoured as part of the Department of Information and Public Affairs’ longstanding tradition of paying tribute to those who have dedicated their lives to journalism and broadcasting.

Among the recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award were Zenella Tamaira Marks, Senior Operator in the Studio Department at the National Communications Network (NCN); Tusika Martin, Editor-in-Chief of Guyana Times, Evening News, and INews; Merrano Isaacs, veteran radio broadcaster with Radio Roraima, Voice of Guyana, and 98.1 Hot FM; and Ronald ‘Ron’ Robinson, the country’s longest-serving broadcaster, with a career spanning over five decades.

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