The Senator representing Ogun Central Senatorial District, Shuaibu Afolabi Salisu, has cautioned journalists against over-reliance on Artificial Intelligence (AI), warning that it could threaten the profession.
Salisu, who spoke on Monday at the Opening Ceremony and Symposium of the 2025 Ogun Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Week, insisted that AI should complement human efforts, not replace them.
The event, themed “The Future of Journalism: Navigating AI and Objective Reporting,” was held at the Aremo Olusegun Osoba Hall, Iwe-Irohin, Abeokuta.
The senator, who also serves as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Cybercrimes, highlighted the relationship between journalism and technology, pointing out that it makes tasks easier and more feasible, hence the need to support and not replace human endeavors.
His words: “There are three relationships between journalism and technology, which are speedy delivery of news items, cost efficiency, and artificial intelligence (AI).
“The use of AI in our world today has made things easier and possible to be done, as there are many benefits of using AI today. However, one of the demerits of AI is being biased. Making use of the device in our business and profession, we should always note that it is a machine that makes use of bias.
“Also, there will always be lack of ethical use and transparency in the use of AI. It will be known that it is not written by a journalist, but it is an AI-generated article. The issue of accountability is also something we should know when making use of AI-generated articles. Will the AI machine, the human writer, or the AI developer be sued for such a report?” he asked.
Salisu, however, told journalists that their profession is under threat if the use of AI is not reduced, adding that one of the challenges to be faced is data privacy, where the use of one’s data without the owner’s permission is becoming more pronounced.
Declaring the event open, the State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, represented by the Head of Service, Kehinde Onasanya, stated that the press week should not be an annual ritual, but an avenue for the union to always reflect on their work, areas of strength, and achievements, and not afford to fail.
Onasanya, who doubled as the keynote speaker, in his address, emphasized the need to promote professionalism and ethics in the media profession, maintaining that it makes the profession move forward and fulfill its role as the conscience of society.
“AI is good, but it has its own bit force, as our newsrooms now have low use of AI policies and this is very critical. As a matter of fact, colleagues in the realm need to raise this issue,” he added.
In his goodwill message, Chairman of NUJ, Comrade Wale Olanrewaju, called for more training of journalists and the use of veterans in the media field to help the profession develop further.
AI should complement your efforts, not replace them – Senator to journalists