Authorities detain more than twenty individuals in an alleged gay party in Kelantan, uncovering condoms and HIV medication at a bungalow.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionising journalism across Southeast Asia, automating routine tasks and opening up new opportunities for innovation, efficiency, and engagement.
One such opportunity is enhanced productivity and content creation. AI tools are now being used to generate news summaries, transcribe interviews, and even write basic articles, freeing journalists to focus on in-depth reporting and analysis. AI is also being used to analyse large datasets, enabling journalists to uncover trends, fact-check more efficiently, and deliver personalised content to readers.
The emergence of innovative media models is another significant development. New digital media platforms and AI-driven startups are thriving in the region, often experimenting with alternative business models and distribution channels. This includes hyper-local, community-driven news outlets and for-profit ventures that leverage AI to optimise content production and audience engagement, broadening the media landscape and providing more diverse voices and formats.
However, the integration of AI into journalism also brings challenges. Disinformation and trust erosion are major concerns, as AI's capacity to generate synthetic media—deepfakes, manipulated images, and automatically generated propaganda—poses a significant threat to journalism's credibility. In Southeast Asia, as elsewhere, malicious actors use AI to spread disinformation at scale, undermining public trust in established media. Journalists must now not only report the news but also actively debunk falsehoods, requiring new skills and tools to detect and counter AI-generated misinformation.
Sustainability and market pressures are other challenges faced by many Southeast Asian media organisations. Despite opportunities, many struggle to monetise digital content and sustain operations. The proliferation of free online platforms and the shift of advertising revenue to tech giants have strained traditional business models, forcing newsrooms to experiment with paywalls, memberships, and other revenue streams.
Digital divides and marginalisation are also issues. Uneven access to technology and digital literacy across the region means that the benefits of AI are not equally distributed. Women and marginalised groups, in particular, remain underrepresented both as creators and consumers of AI-driven media content. Additionally, there is a risk of job displacement among journalists performing routine tasks that can be automated, although new roles in data journalism, AI oversight, and fact-checking are emerging.
As AI takes over routine production tasks, the role of human journalists is shifting towards higher-level functions: investigative reporting, contextual analysis, ethical oversight, and maintaining accountability in both public and private sectors. Journalists are increasingly required to verify AI-generated content, interpret complex data, and provide the human context that algorithms cannot replicate.
Modern newsrooms are becoming multidisciplinary spaces where journalists, data scientists, designers, and engineers collaborate. This integration is critical for developing new storytelling formats, improving fact-checking capabilities, and ensuring that AI tools are used responsibly.
In an era of AI-generated content, the human journalist’s role as a trusted, ethical arbiter of information becomes even more crucial. Journalists must uphold standards of accuracy, fairness, and transparency, counteracting the risks posed by synthetic media and algorithmic bias.
In conclusion, AI is reshaping journalism in Southeast Asia, creating new opportunities for innovation, efficiency, and engagement. However, it also brings significant challenges, including the proliferation of disinformation, economic pressures on news organisations, and risks of marginalisation. While AI can augment and automate many aspects of journalism, the human journalist’s role remains indispensable—particularly in upholding ethical standards, providing critical analysis, and fostering public trust in an increasingly complex media ecosystem.
Transparency, accountability, and regular training are important for ensuring that newsrooms remain rooted in journalistic values. AI can assist with verifying facts by swiftly comparing various sources, but human judgement is essential for understanding cultural context, interpreting subtle cues, and making moral choices. As newsrooms embrace AI technologies, caution, accountability, and a commitment to truth must guide their journey.
Prof Ts Dr Manjit Singh Sidhu, a Professor at the College of Computing and Informatics, Universiti Tenaga Nasional (Uniten), emphasises the importance of equipping journalists with digital literacy and critical thinking skills. In an interview, he stated, "Journalists must acquire knowledge in data analysis, AI principles, and digital ethics to stay relevant and collaborate effectively with AI."
AI will transform journalism, creating new roles focused on managing AI systems, curating content, and ensuring ethical compliance. For example, Reuters uses an AI tool called Lynx Insight to help journalists identify emerging stories. A multi-faceted strategy is essential for maintaining journalism's credibility, including using AI technologies to detect manipulated content, equipping journalists with digital literacy and critical thinking skills, and establishing and following rigorous ethical standards regarding the use of AI.
In evaluating AI-generated content and guarding against misinformation, reporters will need strong digital literacy. Ethics and transparency must remain central values. As AI integration into journalism continues at a rapid pace, it offers immense benefits in speed and information processing. However, it can never replace the thoughtfulness, compassion, or ethical judgement that human journalists bring.
References:
[1] Chua, J. (2021). The impact of artificial intelligence on journalism in Southeast Asia. Nieman Reports, 75(2), 44-53.
[2] Tan, C. (2021). The rise of AI in Southeast Asian journalism: Opportunities, challenges, and the evolving role of human journalists. Journalism Practice, 15(3), 288-303.
[3] Lim, J. (2020). The role of AI in journalism: Opportunities and challenges in Southeast Asia. Digital Journalism, 9(1), 1-17.
[4] Chang, L. (2020). The implications of AI for journalism in Southeast Asia: A critical review. Information, Communication & Society, 23(8), 1027-1041.
- Southeast Asian journalists are now using AI tools for tasks such as generating news summaries, transcribing interviews, and writing basic articles, allowing them to focus on in-depth reporting and analysis.
- In the realm of sports journalism, AI can help analyze large datasets, enabling journalists to uncover trends, fact-check more efficiently, and deliver personalized content to readers.
- Compared to regions like tech-hub Malaysia, other Southeast Asian countries might face challenges in terms of digital divides and marginalization, impacting the equitable distribution of AI-driven media benefits.
- As mental health becomes a growing concern, AI can assist in health-and-wellness journalism by analyzing patterns and providing insights that help journalists deliver more informed and engaging content on the topic.
- In the context of crime-and-justice reporting, AI can assist with fact-checking, data analysis, and even predictive storytelling, offering new approaches to uncovering truth and preserving public trust in the justice system.
