As artificial intelligence transforms the media landscape, industry leaders are urging journalists to champion its responsible adoption in newsrooms to enhance reporting while safeguarding ethical standards.
The call was given by veteran media professionals and academicians as the New Thoughts Media Support Foundation has taken a bold step toward transforming journalism in Nigeria with the launch of ToriAI, an artificial intelligence powered platform, designed to revolutionize newsroom operations.
The unveiling of the AI tool took place during the Innovation for Development Conference held in Lagos, themed “Unlocking Nigeria’s AI Potentials for Media Sustainability and Democracy.”
The conference brought together media professionals, academics, innovators, and policymakers from across Nigeria to discuss the future of journalism in an era increasingly shaped by digital technology.
The event, according to organizers, marked “a defining moment in shared mission to build stronger, more inclusive, and digital newsrooms across Nigeria.”
At the heart of the gathering was ToriAI, a locally developed AI platform built to tackle the real challenges confronting Nigerian newsrooms, from the high cost of operations to the need for inclusive storytelling. The platform integrtes multilingual summaries, automation, and accessibility tools to strengthen journalism sustainability and public relevance.
In one of panel sessions titled “AI Adoption: Lessons from the Newsroom,” moderated by Monsuroh Abdulsemiu, prominent journalists including Tajudeen Sulaiman, Ajibola Amzat, and Mojeed Alabi discussed the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in journalism. Mojeed Alabi emphasized the need for balance, noting that “by combining the strengths of AI with human judgment and expertise, we can create more accurate, informative, and engaging content.”
Ajibola Amzat shared his optimism about AI’s impact on journalism and society at large, encouraging practitioners to embrace the technology as a partner rather than a threat. He said the media must “explore the many possibilities and applications of AI from a creative angle to solve complex newsroom problems.”
Tajudeen Sulaiman stressed that journalists must apply critical thinking and contextual understanding to every AI-assisted output to ensure accuracy, fairness, and credibility in reporting.
“AI is powerful, but it doesn’t always understand the context of a story,” he said. “Without proper background knowledge, it can misrepresent issues or produce content that lacks depth.” He said
The newly launched ToriAI embodies key features such as audio news summaries that make information accessible to those who may not read written content. It is also an interactive platform where users can engage with stories via mobile phones and locally relevant content tailored to the everyday realities of Nigerian communities.
Lanre Ogunkunle, founder of Revocube Technologies, reiterated the need for responsible use of technology, remarking that “AI is not a wrong tool, it only becomes wrong in the hands of the wrong person.” His statement echoed as a reminder of the ethical dimensions of digital innovation.
Professor Musa Aibinu, Vice Chancellor of Summit University, Offa, also mentioned that “The next generation of illiterates will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who are not AI literate.” His words highlighted the urgency of integrating AI literacy into education and professional practice to prepare Nigeria for a technology driven future.