Mombasa: Artificial intelligence (AI) acts as a powerful support tool for traditional media rather than a complete substitute, a Mombasa media forum heard. While AI excels at rapid data processing and routine tasks, human journalists remain essential for deep ethical judgment, original reporting, and public trust.
According to Kenya News Agency, journalists, authors, and technology experts meeting in Mombasa emphasized that AI should be treated as a tool that supports storytelling rather than a threat to jobs. They called for more training to help media practitioners use AI with confidence. The panel discussion, dubbed ‘Conversations that Matter,’ was held at Baraza Media Lab’s Mombasa hub, one of three regional hubs the organization has opened outside Nairobi to support ethical media practice in the regions.
Mombasa Press Club chairman Omar Abdalla assured journalists that AI adoption would not come at the cost of their livelihoods, announcing plans for workshops to build newsroom skills around the technology. Abdalla emphasized that AI is not here to steal jobs but to complement the work of journalists, with the workshops aimed at equipping them with practical knowledge on responsible and effective AI use.
Sarah Ouma, representing Slum Dwellers International, echoed this sentiment, stating that AI should be seen as an aid to journalists, not a replacement. Ouma pointed out that the greater threat to journalism is the pressure to publish quickly, which undermines core journalistic standards like verification, ethics, and accountability.
AI ethics specialist Bokaya Sharamo highlighted the need for greater public awareness of the ethical guidelines surrounding AI use. Sharamo stressed that AI is a tool and not a creator, warning that AI-generated content without human oversight risks eroding the human experience central to storytelling.
Author Dr. Sarah Nyakinyua, affiliated with Qwani Firm, urged writers to reclaim African narratives from algorithm-driven content, advocating for stories that reflect African realities, struggles, and triumphs. Nyakinyua credited her literary success to persistence and highlighted the importance of maintaining the human touch in storytelling.
Micah Balucci, CEO of Albanaverse, encouraged businesses to integrate AI into their operations rather than resist it. He argued that companies embracing AI as a collaborator rather than a competitor would thrive, citing data analysis and content generation as areas where AI can enhance human creativity.
The panelists collectively agreed that structured training is the most effective way to alleviate anxiety among journalists and creatives about AI’s growing role in their work. Nyakinyua emphasized that technology cannot replace the human element behind a story, underscoring the importance of integrity in storytelling.
