The impact of Artificial Intelligence can be witnessed in almost every industry with its ability for profound transformation. The landscape of news delivery, which shapes public opinion, is not an exception. The rise of cutting-edge technology has revolutionised public opinion to a great extent. This digital revolution that was caused due to the radical shift in communication and information technology is inevitable for a country’s overall development.

The impact of AI on Indian journalism

In India, we have witnessed a significant milestone in the journalism industry with the launch of the nation’s first AI bot anchor by India Today group. Regarding the journalism industry, the credibility of news has been a long-standing pursuit, as reporters gather the latest news from the society. Most media professionals understand the growing dependence on AI algorithms and automation. With the rise of innovation in today’s digital era, the journalism industry heavily relies on technology, enabling journalists to keep up with the rapid pace of news production.

Technology has become a significant tool among journalists in their daily work, from instant communication with information sources to developing multimedia content and finally publishing them across channels. Additionally, technology has impacted the way news is collected, produced and shared.

Being in a digital era, the way news is given to the public immensely influences public opinion. The spread of news and information has reached unparalleled levels with the arrival of social media platforms, and sprouting news outlets play a vital role in shaping public opinion. At the same time, the problem with the rise in polarisation and biases in the news development process has become a pressing concern when it comes to undermining the objective pursuit of truth. This is when the importance of Artificial Intelligence arises as it acts as a potential neutraliser that offers innovative solutions to combat misinformation and promote a more balanced news landscape in India.  

How does AI help fight fake news?

India, the highest populated country with over 1.3 billion people, is one of the world’s largest news consumers. According to a study by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism shows, around 84% of Indians rely on online platforms as their primary source of news. Among them, 63% depend solely on social media for daily news updates. This immediate surge in social media usage paves the way for widespread fake news and misinformation, which has become a severe issue in the country.

Misinformation and fake news, which were spreading during the COVID-19 pandemic, were of utmost critical, as people experienced such a terrible situation like this for the first time and were left completely clueless about the precautions and solutions. A deluge of information started spreading regarding the cures and prevention methods to various conspiracy theories about COVID-19 in social media. Finding accurate news during that situation was most challenging. In most cases, AI tools can help address this challenge in the journalism industry to maintain credibility. AI algorithms can effectively scrutinise vast amounts of data from various sources and check whether the news is correct. This helps journalists to produce honest and unbiased news.

How does AI help combat linguistic bias?

Issues arising due to linguistic bias are another primary concern, as India has a diverse population and linguistic diversity. This diversity poses unique challenges in combating biases. The language barriers that arise due to language diversity can pave the way for the isolation of various regions in the country, which limits the accessibility of different news sources. Natural Language Processing helps address this challenge by delivering news in local languages to the country’s remote areas and bridging the language barrier gap. The ability of NLP to process and understand human languages helps to translate news and summarise it into regional languages. AI can foster an inclusive news ecosystem by making news accessible across the country and diminishing the impact of regional and linguistic biases.  

How AI in the news shapes public opinion?

According to studies, the rapid analysis of user preference and audience behaviour and consumption patterns, AI algorithms can help news organisations provide personalised news feeds according to the audience interests. This helps to break the echo chamber effect by fostering a wide range of perspectives and reducing bias.

In this digital era, it is important to maintain real-time news updates; with AI’s help, it is not an arduous task. AI aids in getting up-to-date information and ensures users are kept informed about the actual happenings and have access to the latest updates, which reduces the risk of outdated or biased information. Real-time news delivery shapes a well-informed society.

The use of cutting-edge technology in content creation, AI-powered news feeds etc., can improve news quality and ensure journalism’s credibility. Advanced technology like Artificial Intelligence clubbed with human intervention creates a space to develop a robust news ecosystem that can combat fake news and misinformation that promise truthful and unbiased news, shaping a healthy public opinion.

• Photo by Peter Lawrence on Unsplash
• https://www.financialexpress.com/business/brandwagon-unlocking-the-power-of-ai-in-news-delivery-and-shaping-public-opinion-3104940/