While many journalists in Bangladesh individually leverage artificial intelligence (AI) tools, the institutional use of AI in newsroom operations remains minimal, according to a new report titled “Media Metamorphosis: AI and Bangladeshi Newsrooms 2024.”
The report, conducted by the Media Resources Development Initiative (MRDI) with support from Digitally Right and funded by The Asia Foundation, aimed to understand AI usage patterns, address ethical concerns, and identify needs and gaps for improved AI adoption in Bangladesh’s news media.
The findings were presented at a meeting titled “Assessment of AI Integration in Bangladeshi News Media” held at The Daily Star building in Dhaka.
The event was attended by editors, newsroom gatekeepers, heads of online platforms, journalists, academics, fact-checkers, and representatives from civil society organizations and the development sector.
The survey revealed that while 51% of journalists have used AI tools in their work individually, institutional use is significantly lower at just 20%.
Among those using AI, ChatGPT is the most popular tool with a 78% usage rate, followed by Grammarly (52%) and Google Translate (44%).
Other tools used include Canva (37%), Google Gemini (19%), DALL-E and Adobe Sensei (15% each), and Midjourney, Tableau, Factmata, and Turnitin (7% each).
The primary use of AI across news media outlets is to enhance grammar and writing style, with a combined usage rate of 52%.
Journalists mainly rely on AI for content enhancement and fact-checking, with research and background verification ranking second at 48%.
Hasibur Rahman, executive director of MRDI, said the importance of understanding current AI usage patterns in Bangladeshi newsrooms and exploring future possibilities.
Miraj Ahmed Chowdhury, managing director of Digitally Right, highlighted the importance of ethical and responsible AI usage, transparency through disclosure, and the need for organizational policies governing AI applications.
He also addressed the lack of structured AI integration in Bangladeshi newsrooms and the potential for embedding AI into daily workflows.
The survey found that about two-thirds of the participants believed that using AI increased their efficiency and improved content quality, while 52% reported that it reduced their workload.
Half of the participants believe that AI will significantly improve their journalism quality in the future.
However, the assessment also found concerns about AI causing job loss, with most participants rating this concern as moderate.
There is strong concern that over-reliance on AI may reduce critical thinking and affect the reliability of content.
Additionally, journalists exhibit a strong resistance to technological change, particularly AI, perceiving it as a threat rather than a tool. This creates a self-imposed barrier that hinders innovation in newsrooms.
Most participants were unaware of global or industry-specific guidelines governing the ethical use of AI in journalism.
The major barriers to ethical AI adoption include insufficient training and support (85%), lack of AI understanding (74%), budget constraints (47%), and the absence of clear ethical guidelines (45%).
Participants also shared their AI experiences, discussing its benefits and concerns.
One common challenge highlighted was the discrepancy between management’s verbal support for AI adoption and the lukewarm response in funding.
The credibility of AI-generated content and its acceptance by audiences were also discussed.
Suggestions included implementing a disclosure policy for AI usage, creating internal guidelines, incorporating AI topics into existing university courses, and highlighting opportunities for AI beyond content creation, such as in website traffic management, targeted advertising, and SEO optimization.
The assessment recommends developing comprehensive guidelines, establishing transparent AI disclosure, implementing tiered training programs, and modernizing journalism education to shift the mindset and present AI as a catalyst for newsroom evolution.
