Online Media and Artificial Intelligence
September 19, 20246 Mins Read
Ariful Islam Arman: We are moving towards a new era in the world of information and technology. Where Artificial Intelligence (AI) is deeply impacting every aspect of our daily life. The innovation and effective use of AI is revolutionizing online media, bringing about radical changes in the way content is created, managed and distributed.

We are living in a time where the speed of information flow and communication technology is accelerating. Every day online media is faced with the challenge of analyzing large amounts of data, creating content and delivering the right message to the readers at the right time. AI technology has emerged as a powerful tool for media in this field. Activities like automated content creation, audience analysis, interest-based advertising and social media monitoring etc. are being facilitated by AI. Which has given a new form to the conventional methods of mass media.

The use of AI is not limited to content creation and automation. It is helping media to analyze reader demand, deliver news faster and select advertising campaigns more precisely. For example, leading media outlets like the New York Times, BBC and The Guardian have used AI technology to improve news gathering and content management processes.

Role and Future Prospects of AI Technology in Online Media
The use of AI technology in online media as a whole is not only increasing their effectiveness, but is also redefining the way content is created and the way it connects with audiences. In the future, more advanced versions of AI will elevate media to new heights and address new challenges that come with it. So we should be curious and excited about how AI and online media are ushering in a new era together.

Content Creation and Automation
The content creation process has become faster and automated using AI. For example, news agency Reuters has developed various AI tools and systems. One of their notable tools is called 'Reuters News Tracer'. This tool uses machine learning to identify breaking news by analyzing social media. This helps journalists quickly assess the credibility of sources. They also use various AI technologies for automated reporting and data analysis.

In addition, the Associated Press (AP) uses an AI tool called 'Wordsmith' to generate hundreds of thousands of pieces of content every year. This tool helps analyze news and information related to business and finance. Which saves time and effort for a reporter or editor. For example, Wordsmith automatically collects data and generates articles when creating an organization's earnings report. That helps AP report news more quickly and accurately.

AI based chatbots and interactive features
News organizations are using AI chatbots to be able to communicate more directly and personally with their readers. For example – The Washington Post has developed an AI based interactive chatbot. which answers questions related to climate change with viewers and recommends related articles to read. This not only improves the reader experience, but also helps in increasing the reader's time on the newspaper website.

Enhancing advertising effectiveness through AI and machine learning
The use of AI in advertising campaigns has opened up new possibilities for media. For example – platforms like Google Ads and Facebook Ads use AI algorithms to target ads and increase performance for the advertiser. AI models analyze user behavior and display ads based on their interests, which also helps increase the click-through rate (CTR) of ads.

Prospects and challenges of AI technology

The Future of Education and Journalism
Let's look at some examples to understand how the use of AI in journalism and media is impacting education as well. World-renowned universities such as Stanford University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) are now launching courses in AI journalism. which teaches students how to create effective content using AI tools.

Ethical and Ethical Challenges
The use of AI technology, however, is offering tremendous benefits to the media sector. But it also poses some ethical and policy challenges. For example, AI-based automated journalism may in some cases promote bias or misinformation. Because AI systems learn from predefined datasets. Which naturally carries some limitations. There are also concerns about data privacy and security.

1. Bias and Misinformation
Training of AI models is usually based on predefined datasets. If these datasets are biased or incomplete, AI systems may also generate biased or inaccurate information. For example, if an AI-powered 'news writing tool' gathers information from a single source, it may produce biased or incomplete news that goes against the impartiality and accuracy of the newspaper.

2. Data privacy and security
AI technology typically collects and analyzes large amounts of personal data. Protecting the security and privacy of this data is extremely important. Because improper use of data may violate individual's privacy. Hacking or data theft can be a major challenge for AI systems.

3. Ethics and Accountability
The use of AI systems raises ethical questions, such as how the technology is being used and what the resulting impact is. In particular, when it comes to news or content creation, it is crucial to respect the accuracy of information and human values ​​generated by AI systems.

4. Job Losses and Skill Development
While AI technology has made some repetitive tasks easier, it may lead to job losses in some cases. In particular, in those areas where AI demonstrates superior work efficiency. For example, news writing and data analysis. Along with this, new skill requirements may arise for employees using AI.

5. Technical Limitations
AI systems still have some limitations, such as the actual understanding of language, cultural observation and evaluation of human emotions. This technology is not able to completely replace normal human experience in some cases.

6. Regulation and Policy
The rapid development of AI technology can be left unprepared by a lack of regulation and policy. This results in the need for strict laws and policies to ensure proper use of technology and reduce the risk of misuse.

Have these questions come to your mind?
Does the use of AI in online media have a negative impact on creativity?

– No, AI does not have a negative impact on creativity. Rather, it enhances the quality and effectiveness of creative work. For example, AI can automate graphic design and video editing. which helps creative professionals improve their time and efficiency.

Will AI technology replace the work of journalists?

– AI technology has made the work of journalists easier in some areas, especially in repetitive and data-intensive tasks. But it cannot completely replace journalists in terms of creative and humanitarian content. While AI can collect and analyze data, the need for human journalism remains to answer complex social and human questions.

AI technology is revolutionizing the online media sector, opening up new possibilities in content creation, distribution and advertising. This is not only increasing media effectiveness, but also strengthening their business models more strategically. Yet appropriate policy and regulatory measures are needed to address the ethical and security challenges associated with AI.

At the same time, research, policy development, and transparency are important to address these challenges related to AI technology. If used correctly, AI can revolutionize the media sector, but managing it properly requires attention to technical and ethical aspects.

A widely used open source artificial intelligence tool is also used to generate this content.

Source: Dhaka Post