OSCE facilitates dialogue  on artificial Intelligence and impact on media freedom

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — What until recently seemed like science fiction is now part of everyday reality. Artificial intelligence is widely used in newsrooms and on the smartphones of millions of people. It has become a co-creator and a direct competitor to humans across a wide range of creative and professional fields.

The impact of AI technologies on modern journalism was the focus of a roundtable discussion organized by the Public Foundation for Support and Development of National Mass Media, in collaboration with the Committee on Innovative Development and Information Technologies of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan, as well as the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan.

Participants explored how to maintain a balance between the advancement of AI technologies and the stability of the media sector, as well as how to ensure press freedom amid the growing influence of major technology platforms.

Particular attention was devoted to the findings of the OSCE’s Representative on Freedom of Media, whose policy manual was presented in Tashkent last year at the OSCE Central Asia Media Conference.

Entitled “Safeguarding Media Freedom in the Age of Big Tech Platforms and AI”, the manual, grounded in OSCE commitments, emphasizes the need for thoughtful discussion among stakeholders and consideration of proactive policies to support media pluralism and independence and to combat distortion, deception and division.

A key topic was the future of journalism itself. According to participants, artificial intelligence can support newsrooms - for instance, by automating routine tasks or speeding up information processing - but it cannot fully replace journalists.

The conference concluded with a call for open dialogue among government institutions, technology companies, journalists and civil society. Participants agreed that the future of media depends not only on technology but also the values that society manages to preserve in the digital age.