I read with dismay a recent op-ed by Agnes Kalekye, chairperson of the Media Owners Association, which unconvincingly, in my view, argues that recent advancements in AI could be a boon for our "declining sector".
The reality, however, is that US technology companies have always been rapacious content and revenue thieves. Artificial intelligence tools, with their powerful ability to scrape the internet for content, will only make them better at it.
Two decades ago, when Facebook and Google first arrived, local newsrooms were persuaded to trade in their “tired” revenue models. Little did they know they were making a pact that would lead to the anaemic revenues and job losses that have gutted newsrooms worldwide.
Now, these same companies, joined by OpenAI, are selling AI as our salvation. From Kalekye’s op-ed, it's clear many are drinking the Kool-Aid. I would strongly advise that we take stock of recent history and gird our loins.
Fortunately for our purposes, a few intrepid journalists have already done our homework for us and exposed Silicon Valley's tendency to break things—like the global news ecosystem, the fabric of reality and democracy itself—all the while preaching that they are saving the world.
Recent books like Kara Swisher's Burn Book and Ben Smith's Traffic have debunked the idea that US tech companies are out for anyone but themselves. To paraphrase Matt Taibbi, US tech companies are like a great vampire squid wrapped around the face of humanity, relentlessly jamming their blood funnel into anything that smells like money.
I am no Luddite; I love technology. Like Kalekye, I see potential in AI to enhance journalism, making it sharper and more data-driven. But I also agree with Ian Fleming's adage: “Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. Three times is enemy action.” Every serious American media enterprise agrees with this stance, and they are fighting to protect their intellectual property rights against Silicon Valley.
In April, eight American newspapers, including the New York Daily News and Chicago Tribune, sued Microsoft and OpenAI in a New York federal court, accusing them of misusing reporters' work to train their AI systems.
These papers followed in the footsteps of The New York Times, which filed its lawsuit in December 2023. The Times demanded the defendants be held responsible for “billions of dollars in statutory and actual damages” related to the “unlawful copying and use of The Times’s uniquely valuable works.”
Perhaps the most terrifying claim in Kalekye's op-ed is that AI will create new revenue sources for Kenyan media by breaking our audience into algorithmic silos.
Kalekye envisions a news platform that curates content based on individual political leanings, enhancing relevance and engagement, and opening new avenues for niche content creation.
However, anyone familiar with algorithm-driven social media news ecosystems—like Facebook, which has been blamed for supercharging violence against the Rohingya ethnic minority in Myanmar and the insurrection at the US Capitol on January 6, 2021—knows that nothing good comes from putting humans in news bubbles. Only serious peril, of the democracy-shattering variety, lies down that path.
So, where is our salvation? I believe it lies in being the adults in the room and maintaining faith in the “trusted source” model. AI tools will quickly lose the trust of news consumers by polluting our newsfeeds with synthetic misinformation and empty-calorie fluff. The future belongs to those media outlets that address the yearning for serious news and context to help Kenyans understand our increasingly complicated world.
Instead of chasing the mirage of AI-generated salvation, Kenyan media should focus on rebuilding trust with their audiences. This involves doubling down on investigative journalism, maintaining editorial integrity and investing in human talent that can critically assess and contextualise the news.
The battle for the future of news is not in adopting every new technology indiscriminately, but in ensuring that the core values of journalism—accuracy, accountability, and a commitment to the public good—are upheld.
While AI has the potential to assist journalists in some areas, we should be careful about tech idolatry. Silicon Valley has shown us its true colours. It is not the panacea for the media industry’s woes. The real solution lies in a steadfast commitment to quality journalism that informs and empowers the public. Only then can we hope to restore the vitality of the media business in Kenya.
Lawyer and media practitioner. [email protected]