15 June, Istanbul - A joint event titled "Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Journalism," hosted by the Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA) and the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Istanbul, took place at the consulate's Beyoğlu premises today, followed by a panel discussion.
The panel was moderated by Barış Altıntaş, Co-Director of MLSA. The participants included Prof. Dr. Catrin Misselhorn from the University of Göttingen, Dr. Can Ertuna, a journalist and faculty member of Bahçeşehir University, and Orhan Şener, the Academy Director of the Journalists Association of Turkey.
The event began with the opening remarks of MLSA Co-Director Veysel Ok. In his speech, Ok discussed the exciting possibilities of artificial intelligence (AI) and its future implications for journalism. He emphasized the significant potential of evolving AI technology in the field of journalism.
MLSA Co Director Veysel Ok
Following Ok's remarks, the event continued with a presentation by Prof. Dr. Catrin Misselhorn from the University of Göttingen. Misselhorn asserted, "There's no doubt that new technology offers many opportunities to expand human creative potential. However, it is only us humans who possess the creativity required to transform this into a positive plan for economy, society, and culture." Her discussion focused on the history of AI, its paradigm, the breakthroughs in deep learning, AI morality, and machine ethics.
During the panel, Misselhorn expressed skepticism about news generated by AI, particularly those pertaining to political events, stating the need for utmost scrutiny and fact-checking. "In general, news that comments on political developments should not be left to AI," she warned.
Prof. Dr. Catrin Misselhorn
Dr. Can Ertuna, journalist and academic at Bahçeşehir University, expressed concerns about the potential misuse of AI in suppressing freedom of speech in Turkey, especially in light of the existing restraints on internet access and censorship on platforms such as Wikipedia and YouTube.
Dr. Can Ertuna
Orhan Şener, the Academy Director of the Journalists Association of Turkey, however, shared a more optimistic view. He argued that AI's ability to generate information outside of the human mind is not only exciting but also represents a significant transformation in both quantitative and qualitative terms. He acknowledged the current benefit large media organizations are getting from this technology, while he suggested that journalists working for 'critical' or 'opposition media' may face challenges in keeping up with AI-generated content. However, he pointed out that in situations requiring human contact, a reporter would still be needed, not a robot.
Orhan Şener (R)
MLSA Co Director Veysel Ok
Following Ok's remarks, the event continued with a presentation by Prof. Dr. Catrin Misselhorn from the University of Göttingen. Misselhorn asserted, "There's no doubt that new technology offers many opportunities to expand human creative potential. However, it is only us humans who possess the creativity required to transform this into a positive plan for economy, society, and culture." Her discussion focused on the history of AI, its paradigm, the breakthroughs in deep learning, AI morality, and machine ethics.
During the panel, Misselhorn expressed skepticism about news generated by AI, particularly those pertaining to political events, stating the need for utmost scrutiny and fact-checking. "In general, news that comments on political developments should not be left to AI," she warned.
Prof. Dr. Catrin Misselhorn
Dr. Can Ertuna, journalist and academic at Bahçeşehir University, expressed concerns about the potential misuse of AI in suppressing freedom of speech in Turkey, especially in light of the existing restraints on internet access and censorship on platforms such as Wikipedia and YouTube.
Dr. Can Ertuna
Orhan Şener, the Academy Director of the Journalists Association of Turkey, however, shared a more optimistic view. He argued that AI's ability to generate information outside of the human mind is not only exciting but also represents a significant transformation in both quantitative and qualitative terms. He acknowledged the current benefit large media organizations are getting from this technology, while he suggested that journalists working for 'critical' or 'opposition media' may face challenges in keeping up with AI-generated content. However, he pointed out that in situations requiring human contact, a reporter would still be needed, not a robot.
Orhan Şener (R)
