Anadolu mulls guide for ethical use of AI in media, CEO Karagoz says

By Utku Simsek

Anadolu's President and CEO Serdar Karagoz emphasized on Wednesday the growing importance of artificial intelligence (AI), announcing that the news agency is planning to create a guide for ethical use of the technology in media.

"We will try to create a guide and framework for ethical use of AI in media through our discussions here," Karagoz said at the Managing Al in Media forum organized by Anadolu at its headquarters in Ankara.

AI ethics guidelines are practices meant to optimize its beneficial impact while reducing risks and adverse outcomes.

Karagoz said the forum was meant to discuss how artificial intelligence transforms life, its effects on the media industry, and its legal and ethical dimensions.

Arguing that artificial intelligence is one of the developments that most affected the first quarter of the 21st century, the head of Anadolu said: "[It is] Perhaps the most important development that will leave its mark on the 21st century with its impact in the coming days. The economic size related to artificial intelligence will reach $1.85 trillion by 2030."

"As with every new technological development, artificial intelligence comes with its advantages and disadvantages," he said.

"To what extent will we see artificial intelligence as a threat? Will it contribute to the digitalization process of the media, or are we facing an ethical and moral problem due to the increasing disinformation? We will discuss all these together here today."

- 'AI to provide personalized contributions'

Karagoz said AI closely affects the media industry in a range of areas including production and consumption. "This technology continues to be integrated into our lives day by day. Artificial intelligence will improve our experiences in the future and provide personalized contributions in many areas. We will leave our smart homes and go where we want to go with our artificial intelligence-supported autonomous cars. On the road, we will listen to news content created by our digital assistants with Anadolu content."

He said developments in the field of artificial intelligence will not only help inform the public, but will also shape the political sphere and the fabric of social life.

- AI and threat of disinformation

The CEO said AI can also pose danger with regards to disinformation.

"There is a point about a technology with such potential that we need to be very careful about, disinformation that is likely to be produced by artificial intelligence. For this reason, artificial intelligence and the issue of disinformation is one of the most important agenda items today. When artificial intelligence is deliberately loaded with manipulative information and data, it becomes difficult for artificial intelligence to make accurate analysis," he said.

Pointing out that artificial intelligence also has the potential to "create misleading and false content" through persuasive articles, Karagoz said, "At this point, artificial intelligence, which is not currently at a level where it can act of its own will, turns into a threat only with human intervention. It is not a threat per se. But depending on the intentions of those who use these applications, we are faced with an artificial intelligence that is also capable of becoming the sword and armor of evil."

The CEO added that "it is also possible to fight disinformation and manipulation with the same algorithms and artificial intelligence technologies."

"One, we need to learn artificial intelligence. Second, we need to work with artificial intelligence as responsible and truthful people. Only in such a case can we use artificial intelligence effectively in the fight against disinformation," he said.

"It is also important to consider a law that represents a world first and regulates the ethical use of artificial intelligence."

Karagoz mentioned the recently adopted EU AI Act, saying: "This law will come into force in the coming years. However, it stands before us as a first example worldwide."

- Use of AI by media organizations

He said some media institutions and organizations on a global scale have already managed to integrate artificial intelligence into their own working methods.

"These artificial intelligence algorithms used in content production processes can speed up these processes by up to 30% and also result in significant cost savings."

Providing information about how Anadolu uses AI, Karagoz said: "Anadolu evaluates technology not only as a tool but also as a part of its understanding of journalism. In this sense, we hired our first artificial intelligence reporter in the past months."

"We brought together Ismail al-Jazari, who lived in the 12th century, and Leonardo Da Vinci, who lived in the 15th century ... We depicted the Battle of Manzikert and visuals were produced entirely by artificial intelligence. We told the story of the theft that made Leonardo Da Vinci's famous work, Mona Lisa, legendary," he added.

"These were our first content productions with artificial intelligence," Karagoz said, adding they will promote AI from reporter to manager and it will have its own coordinators.

Following the speech, Karagoz and Bilisim Vadisi platform's General Manager Erkam Tuzgen signed the Media Technologies Cooperation Protocol on the development of projects that support digital transformation and the effective use of artificial intelligence in the media sector.