AI and Big Tech's Impact on Nigerian Journalism

The article by Shuaib S. Agaka addresses the challenges facing Nigerian journalism due to the influence of big tech and artificial intelligence.

It notes that the Nigerian Communications Commission and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) are involved in regulating global technology companies operating in Nigeria. The rise of digital platforms has led to a significant loss of advertising revenue for traditional media, raising concerns about the sustainability of the media industry.

The article emphasizes that AI systems trained on publicly available online information can summarize and reproduce content without licensing agreements, which threatens the financial viability of journalism. As a result, Nigerian publishers are advocating for fair compensation for the use of their content.

The piece also mentions that the digital landscape is evolving, with millions of Nigerians relying on platforms like Google and Facebook for news, further complicating the media landscape and the economic survival of journalism in Nigeria.