As part of efforts aimed at bridging knowledge gaps, the Safer Media Initiative (SMI) recently trained journalists in Lagos on effective, responsible and safe use of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Themed,‘AI tools for Journalists: Effective, responsible and safe use’, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of SMI, Peter Iorter, said, “there is something that has changed about journalism. While some aspects remain the same, many changes are driven by technology.

Even the traditional media has no option but to adapt, otherwise it risks being left out of the media business,”Iorter observed that Artificial Intelligence is at the centre of this disruption, noting that journalists who fail to keep pace with such innovations risk becoming irrelevant in the evolving industry.

Allaying fears that AI would replace journalists, he, however. Insisted that professionals who refuse to embrace the technology are more likely to lose their relevance.

To him, “AI will not take your job, but it will take the job of journalists who refuse to embrace it and give it to those who have adopted it.”

From a recent survey, Iorter disclosed that the data collected proved knowledge and skills gap in the industry, which the training aims to address.

In her presentation, Founder, Generative AI journalism with Titi, Titilope Fadare Oparinde noted AI will not replace journalists who know how to use it, but will replace journalists who refuse to learn.

Saying the choice has always been open to journalists, she noted responsible AI requires human editorial control over AI outputs.

She further advised, “always verify sources. AI research tools can cite outdated or non-existing sources. Notebook LM only works with what you give it.”

Noting responsible AI journalism requires transparency, Oparinde also urged journalists to label AI-generated images; disclosing AI assistance; maintaining editorial accountability; double-checking data accuracy before publishing visualisations.

She, however, cautioned, “never upload sensitive materials into public AI tools.

Examples are, confidential interview transcripts, unpublished investigations, private source communications and leaked documents.

You use AI to work faster without cutting corners on verification. You protect your sources even from tools that promise to be helpful. You stay accountable because your name is on the story, not the AI’s,”she stated.