Dr.Mohamed Salah
Today’s “news” is no longer just a text written by a journalist behind a desk; it has become the byproduct of a complex technical process where code intertwines with words. In the Arab world, a radical transformation is underway. While “truth” once relied on a photograph or a video clip that defied doubt, Artificial Intelligence has arrived to tell us that everything we see or hear can be manufactured from nothing. This shift is not merely technical; it is a profound reshaping of the relationship between the Arab audience and the media.
AI has equipped Arab newsrooms with “superhuman” tools. Algorithms are now capable of writing financial and sports reports in seconds and converting text into high-quality professional videos. However, this speed comes at a price: the erosion of “certainty.” When a reader sees a video of an official speaking fluently, only to discover it is a “Deepfake,” they begin to question the entirety of the content surrounding them. According to a 2023 study by Stanford University, more than 60% of internet users globally express concern about their inability to distinguish between real and AI-generated content—a percentage that is particularly critical in regions where digital literacy is still developing.
The problem is not limited to intentional deception; it lies also in “hidden bias.” The algorithms that recommend news to us on social media platforms do not prioritise “the whole truth,” but rather “what you like.” This leads to the creation of “Echo Chambers,” where the Arab reader only sees news that confirms their personal biases, making the “truth” fragmented and tailor-made. According to a 2024 Pew Research Centre report, algorithms can increase public opinion polarisation by up to 35%, placing Arab journalism under the immense pressure of breaking these digital bubbles.
In this landscape, the role of the Arab journalist is no longer limited to reporting news; they have become a “verifier” and an “interpreter.” Redefining truth in the age of AI requires a new media code of ethics committed to transparency—meaning institutions must explicitly disclose any content produced or modified by machines. Trust is the only currency that algorithms cannot forge, and without it, journalism will turn into mere technical noise without a soul.
How to Protect Ourselves as Readers?
The battle for truth is, first and foremost, a battle of awareness. As consumers of Arabic content, we must adopt a “methodological scepticism” by:
- Verifying the Source: Does the media outlet have a history of professional standards?
- Using Reverse Image Search: Checking the history and origin of photos and clips.
- Diversifying Sources: Avoiding reliance on a single platform (like Facebook or TikTok) for news.
