Minister Warns Against Unchecked AI Risks

Information and Broadcasting Minister Zohir Uddin Swapon warned that technology could pose existential threats if human control and governance fail. On Tuesday (August 18), he delivered the chief guest address at a policy dialogue titled "Information Integrity and Social Cohesion in Bangladesh: Policy, Platform Accountability and Collective Action" organized by UNDP, GIZ, and the Norwegian Government at a hotel in Dhaka.

Minister Zohir Uddin Swapon stated, "Sustainable development remains impossible without ensuring equal opportunities across society. Science and history demonstrate that moving forward on the basis of equality drives long-term societal progress. Bangladesh's media and information ecosystem is changing rapidly. While technological advancement expanded information access, it also introduced unprecedented challenges. Addressing these requires synchronized efforts among the state, media, civil society, and international development partners. Alongside ensuring free information flow, maintaining information credibility and responsibility is essential. Rapid expansion of ICT and artificial intelligence broadens data availability, yet fighting misinformation and fake news remains a major hurdle."

Highlighting technological risks, the Minister drew an analogy to Frankenstein, stating, "If technology ultimately slips beyond human control, it may create a monstrous reality that eventually destroys us all. We must leverage international experience to find effective solutions while building domestic capabilities tailored to Bangladesh's realities. Modernizing media and information systems requires combining research, policymaking, skill development, and international cooperation. We must constructively utilize next-generation technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, digital platforms, and data-driven communication. Simultaneously, media freedom, accountability, and the public right to information must be addressed in an integrated manner. We must also upgrade journalists' skill sets to help them adapt to emerging technologies."

He expressed optimism that UNDP's initiative would play a crucial role in formulating media policies and actionable strategies in Bangladesh. Representatives from UNDP, media experts, journalists, and development agencies attended the dialogue. //DBTech/IHI/MIS//