Artificial Intelligence For Optimal Performance – Dr. Quasim Akinreti

Written by Olanrewaju Ogundeyi

A media consultant, multimedia journalist, and academic, Dr. Quasim Akinreti has called on media practitioners to utilise the advantages of Artificial Intelligence (AI) as part of their tools of trade to remain relevant to the audience.

Akinreti, who is the Deputy Director of Digital Media, Voice of Nigeria, Lagos Nigeria, disclosed in a lecture delivered recently during the Digital Humanities Week organised by the Indigenous Language Media in Africa (ILMA) Research Entity, North-West University, South Africa.

In his lecture titled “Shaping the future of African language media through artificial intelligence”, Akinreti emphasised the need for African language media experts to integrate artificial intelligence tools into their operations to promote indigenous African languages. For this to be achieved, Akinreti noted that experts should link media goals with the four goals of Articifial Intelligence. These goals, according to Akinreti are; the promotion of automation, increase in efficiency, personalisation of work, and the advancement of innovation.

The media executive further stated that artificial intelligence tools are very germane to the African language media space to streamline editorial processes by automating repetitive tasks such as data analysis, research, and data entry. He, therefore, admonished journalists to explore AI for more in-depth reporting and storytelling.

Apart from artificial intelligence voice translator and content writing tools like ClickUp, AIWriter, EditGPT and ChatGPT, Akinreti highlighted Nkenne App, Mandla App, Zipo App, Duolingo, and Angula, as other applications that African indigenous language media producers can find useful. He noted that all of these Apps accommodate prominent indigenous languages in Africa (Swahili, IsiZulu, Afrikaans, Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, Lingal, Bambarua and Wolof Madunka amongst others).

He disclosed that several challenges endured by media practitioners today can be surmounted if they apply global best practices through the effective use of artificial intelligence. Some of the challenges peculiar to African language media practitioners, as observed by Akinreti include insufficient technical skills, lack of support and collaboration between African linguistics and computer scientists, ethical problems arising from the accuracy of data, impact of colonialism and cultural biases amongst other challenges.

Dr. Akinreti concluded his presentation by recommending that relevant stakeholders, including governments at various levels, fund research that will optimize the use of AI for the promotion of African indigenous languages, and appealed to African AI experts and linguists to commit to protecting and promoting African language media.