Media practitioners need to stay professional in the digital age

KUCHING, Oct. 9: Media practitioners must continue to uphold integrity and professionalism in addressing the changing information dissemination landscape as social media develops and artificial intelligence (AI).

Deputy Prime Minister of Sarawak, Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian said the emergence of social media has allowed people to become influential, thus creating new challenges for traditional media practitioners.

"Everyone now has the opportunity to be a social media influencer.

"The development of artificial intelligence (AI) is so rapid, with ChatGPT launched in November 2022 and still less than four years old, Not only does it facilitate the production of fake content such as deepfake and open up space for the abuse of freedom of expression, but it also raises concerns amongst AI industry figures themselves about the potential threat this technology poses to humans", he said.

He said in a Facebook post after attending a media evening with about 100 media workers at a restaurant in Kuching last night.

At the ceremony, Dr Sim also paid tribute to traditional media practitioners for their continued professionalism despite the challenges of spreading false information in an increasingly complex digital environment. - TVS