BTA chief: AI will never replace natural communication

ISTANBUL – BTA Director General Kiril Valchev said artificial intelligence (AI) could play a vital role in performing the jobs of journalists in the future.

But Valchev, in his opening remarks at a conference on "Navigating the AI and Media" initiated by the Association of Balkan News Agencies- Southeast Europe (ABNA-SE) in Istanbul on Wednesday, pointed out that AI could never replace the natural communication among people.

Valchev asked the participants to imagine having computers at a future ABNA-SE General Assembly, trying to calculate what the heads of news agencies would say or how they would vote.

"While that may be possible in some other part of the world, it is inconceivable in the Balkans where life has always been guided by living human emotions," he said.

It is also unimaginable to replace God's creation, he added.

The head of BTA said AI could aid professionals, including journalists, to ease their jobs, especially when dealing with large databases as it saves time.

"It is important, however, to note that AI cannot replace a live reporter on the scene, since AI works with previously accumulated knowledge but cannot cover live news. New technologies can only complement journalists, not replace them," he said.

Valchev cited some uses for AI in the news media.

First, they can use AI to pick the really important news and help users navigate through the ocean of news, he said.

AI could also facilitate the exchange of news articles between agencies that use different languages.

At the same time, AI could also help media outlets find common points between different news articles, and could facilitate the combination of various formats for news reporting: text, photos, video, audio and infographics.

Also, AI could help news agencies to manage the presence of social networks and other platforms to reach more people, especially young people.

He urged news agencies to train their staff on how to use AI, adding that, "before we developing AI, we need to develop natural human intelligence."

Among the forum attendees were Türkiye's Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacir and Serdar Karagoz, head of the ABNA-SE and Anadolu Agency Director General.

The Association of the Balkan News Agencies – Southeast Europe (hereinafter ABNA-SE or "the Association") is registered at the Registry Agency of the Republic of Bulgaria as a non-profit association for the pursuit of private-benefit activities under Unified Identification Code (UIC) 207110234. (PNA)