Artificial Intelligence (AI) is bringing about a transformative shift in the global media landscape, influencing both traditional print and electronic platforms. Its versatile capabilities span various tasks, from editing and proofreading to language translation and transcription.

The journalism industry has been under immense economic pressure over the past two decades, so it makes indispensable that journalists start experimenting with generative AI to boost their productivity and relevance. AI and Generative AI are the third wave of technological change: after the Internet and social media. In reality, for the news media, it may appear like a technological tsunami. Furthermore, AI tools can generate news articles, summaries and reports.

In the domain of electronic media, AI can assist in video editing, scriptwriting, and creating compelling headlines. The emergence of AI-generated news anchors presents an innovative opportunity to reduce production expenses. The ability of AI to monitor social media platforms not only keeps journalists promptly abreast of breaking news but also provides valuable insights for strategic advertising planning for media outlets. New AI tools are on the anvil to combat misinformation and fake news.

AI applications such as ChatGPT, Stable Diffusion and Genesis have the potential to be invaluable assets to journalists. However, there is growing apprehension on the content veracity, authenticity besides its potential to lead to job displacement. The creators of these tools claim that AI's role is meant to complement human expertise rather than replace it. It is important to acknowledge that AI lacks the creativity, originality, and human touch that journalists provide and it cannot engage with the public or gather information firsthand, a vital aspect of journalism. Emotional nuances that humans understand remain beyond the capabilities of Artificial Intelligence.

AI's usage also prompts intricate questions about upholding journalistic ethics. The potential of AI to create lifelike media content raises concerns about the spread of convincing deepfakes that propagate fake news and disinformation. It also needs to ensure that AI models do not inherit the biases present in the data, compromising media integrity. Beyond this, the potential of AI for malicious exploitation, available on tools like EvilGPT and WormGPT. Therefore, it is imperative to ensure that these challenges are effectively addressed and mitigated, taking necessary precautions to uphold journalistic integrity and the responsible use of AI in media.

Despite growing interest, the effects of AI on the news industry and our information ecology in the public arena remain poorly understood. Insufficient attention is paid to the implications of the news industry’s dependence on technology companies for AI. Hence, the Organising Committee of Eighth National Media Conclave-2024 envisions that the role of AI in media is bound to expand exponentially at a much faster pace in the coming years. With these views in the background, the eighth edition will hold debate and discussion on the broad theme ‘Media in AI Era’ by welcoming insights and views from across the academic as well as professional spectrum.