AI and Accuracy: Shafiqul Alam Urges Journalists to Verify Every Fact
Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Mohammad Shafiqul Alam has urged journalists to remain vigilant so that artificial intelligence does not undermine journalism’s core ethical principles, stressing that every piece of information must be verified with proper quotes and evidence.
Speaking at the closing session of a two-day AI-powered journalism workshop at the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) Shafiqul Kabir Auditorium on Saturday, December 27, Shafiqul Alam warned about the growing threat of deepfakes and manipulated content.
“Because of deepfakes, we are now constantly facing the menace of misleading photo cards. I myself have been a victim. A 27-minute speech of mine was stitched together and compressed into a one-minute clip in an unbelievable way,” he said. Emphasising the urgency of AI literacy, he added, “Those who do not understand AI should not practise journalism. Knowing AI is now an ethical responsibility. Until we become technologically self-reliant, journalists must play the role of fact-checkers.”
He also criticised social media platforms for evading responsibility under the banner of “freedom of platform,” alleging that unchecked hate speech has contributed to serious humanitarian consequences, including the burden of hosting nearly one million Rohingya refugees.
Shafiqul Alam noted that while AI tools can assist journalists in their work and help distinguish truth from falsehood, they also pose a risk of altering journalism’s “golden code.” “There can be no compromise here,” he said, adding that AI-generated information must always be verified, even if it requires extra effort.
The session was chaired by Abu Saleh Akon and moderated by DRU General Secretary Mainul Hasan Sohel. DRU Information Technology Editor Mahmud Sohel and Mahfuzur Rahman, CEO of Gameplify XYZ, also spoke at the event.
In his closing remarks, the DRU president called on journalists to use their newly acquired technological knowledge to resist foreign and regional dominance.
Joining virtually, Mashirur Rahman, founder of Gameplify XYZ, urged media professionals to work towards creating a healthier digital environment and to remain cautious in verifying information. He said Gameplify plans to undertake further joint initiatives with journalists in this regard.
Following the training, DRU members Saif Gazi Anwar and Al Amin Azad were awarded prizes for their performance in a quiz competition.
In the afternoon session, fact-checker Qadruddin Shishir demonstrated various tools for verifying fake images and videos, including Google reverse image search, Deepware AI, InVID, and Hive Moderation AI, highlighting the importance of using multiple verification methods to detect AI-generated content.
DBTech/EK/OR
