The two-day program was conducted for Sabah MPI participants at The Palace Hotel, Kota Kinabalu. The first day of the program primarily focused on understanding Artificial Intelligence (AI). This included topics such as the key drivers of AI, common misconceptions about AI, defining AI and learning how AI works.
The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, as participants were very interactive and eager to learn. There were numerous questions related to the topics discussed. Participants found the practical session on AI particularly intriguing, where they were introduced to how neural networks, machine learning and AI models are trained.
One participant asked how AI relates to journalism. It was explained that it is crucial for everyone, especially journalists, to understand how AI processes data and delivers outputs. This knowledge is particularly important as society increasingly relies on AI in decision-making processes.
A group discussion on the topic, “In which areas of journalism and news production do you believe AI excels and where do human journalists maintain a unique advantage?”, was particularly engaging. Participants shared strong opinions, emphasizing areas where humans maintain irreplaceable advantages over AI.
The second day was filled with practical activities and group sessions. Participants were introduced to various AI tools that could benefit and assist them in their work. It was observed that many participants, compared to those from previous programs in Sarawak and Cyberjaya, were less familiar with AI tools. They were advised to explore a variety of tools and eventually select those that would best support their careers.
Trainer’s Summary
The latter half of the second day focused on AI governance. Participants were introduced to issues such as AI biases and ethics. Case studies were used to prompt discussions on two key questions:
How can journalists ensure that AI-driven tools do not perpetuate biases or misinformation in their reporting?
What steps should journalists take to mitigate fact-checking failures when using AI tools and how can AI governance frameworks support ethical journalism?
Responses included suggestions such as establishing committees involving various stakeholders, developing guidelines and policies, increasing training and awareness programs, conducting research related to AI and journalism and expanding journalists’ knowledge base.
Overall, the two-day session was highly engaging and interactive, with participants sharing many ideas and concerns. It was suggested that follow-up programs should be conducted to ensure continuity and support for their growth.
