IGF 2024 Lightning Talk #125 African Narratives: Redefining News Consumption with AI

    Centre for Innovation & Technology
    Sean Ndlovu, Centre for Innovation and Technology , Africa
    Mpathisi Ndlovu (PhD), National University of Science and Technology, Africa
    Tanaka Mrewa

    Speakers

    Sean Ndlovu, Centre for Innovation and Technology , Africa
    Mandalenkosi Ndlovu, National University of Science and Technology, Africa

    Onsite Moderator

    Sean Ndlovu

    Rapporteur

    Sean Ndlovu

    SDGs

    9.b
    9.c
    10.6


    Targets: The discussion on integrating AI in African newsrooms fosters domestic technology development and innovation by demonstrating the potential of AI in the media sector. Advocating for Afrocentric AI policies underscores the need for supportive regulatory environments to spur technological growth and industrial diversification. Additionally, by providing insights and strategies for leveraging AI, the lighting talk contributes to enhancing access to information and communications technology, supporting universal Internet access in least developed countries, by addressing the sociocultural implications of AI and advocating for inclusive policymaking, it empowers developing countries to play a more significant role in global discussions on AI governance, aligning with the aim of creating more effective and legitimate institutions.

    Format

    The format will be informal, with each presenter sharing short thoughts on the topic. The moderator will then lead a discussion, followed by questions from the audience. To conclude, the moderator will offer final thoughts and suggestions for moving forward.

    Duration (minutes)
    30
    Description

    Participants will be exposed to ideas and advancements around how to use AI in the newsroom from content gathering, content production, and content distribution. Using African newsrooms like Centre for Innovation and Technology use of Alice News reader anchor as a case study, we will delve into the current unregulated landscape, highlighting the potential impact on news consumption. By embracing AI African newsrooms educate their audiences this will get picked up civic organizations, and policymakers which can lobby more effectively for AI policies, frameworks which are Afrocentric so as to avoid bias and misrepresentation from the African users perspective. . Additionally, attendees will gain invaluable insights into the sociocultural implications of AI within the African context, shedding light on underrepresented perspectives. Our lightning talk will showcase practical strategies for African newsrooms and audiences to harness AI, addressing unique challenges that may arise, distinct from those encountered in the global north.

    We will organize a digital conference session with both offline and online interaction. The lighting Talk will start with a roundtable discussion among physically present participants, led by an onsite facilitator. Then, the same facilitator will pose questions to virtual panelists. Next, there will be a Q&A session, beginning with questions from the physical audience, then virtual ones. We will use Zoom,X and livestream on YouTube, managed by an onsite digital moderator who will monitor feedback and questions .In addition, a hashtag for the session would be used in conjunction with any other IGF hashtags. The on-site digital moderator in addition to engaging in social media, They will gather any question comments and remarks for the plenary session.