a day ago
AI revolution in Moroccan media : Balancing innovation with ethics and diversity
As AI continues to reshape newsrooms, Moroccan media professionals are being urged to rethink how information is produced, without compromising ethics, rigor, or editorial sovereignty. This was the focus of a roundtable held Tuesday in Salé, as part of Morocco's first National AI Conference, under the theme «Media in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: New Challenges in Information Production».
Bringing together researchers, journalists, and entrepreneurs, the discussion addressed the rise of chatbots, algorithms, and automated content in journalism.
Salah Baïna, professor at Mohammed V University in Rabat and NLP expert, warned that AI tools are not neutral. «They ease production but risk amplifying bias, standardizing narratives, and threatening pluralism», he said. He also raised concerns over algorithmic sovereignty, stressing that current models are trained on foreign cultural content that may sideline local voices. He called for AI rooted in Moroccan values and linguistic diversity.
Journalist and media entrepreneur Adnane Benchekroun described a «triple crisis» in newsrooms : falling public trust, economic fragility, and resistance to innovation. «Some reject AI entirely, others use it without training, harming credibility», he observed.
Professor Mohammed Senoussi highlighted ethical risks tied to automation, including discourse uniformity and cognitive dependency. He stressed the need for inclusive public regulation to uphold truth, nuance, and analysis.
Mohamed Ait Bellahcen, digital director at L'ODJ Media, noted that AI tools now allow for rapid generation of videos, voiceovers, and personalized avatars. «The creative process has been completely transformed», he said, urging critical engagement from young journalists.
