Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing the way Caribbean newsrooms operate, but media practitioners must ensure that the technology does not come at the expense of credibility, accuracy and public trust.
That was a key message on Wednesday as the Caribbean Broadcasting Union (CBU) hosted its Conference Day under the theme "Caribbean Media and Artificial Intelligence" at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.
The conference formed part of the CBU's 57th Annual General Assembly and brought together journalists, broadcasters, media executives and other industry stakeholders to examine the opportunities and challenges presented by AI.
Chief Executive Officer of Ignite Television Shane Sukhlal told delegates that while AI has become a valuable newsroom tool, it cannot replicate the human judgment and accountability that underpin professional journalism.
Sukhlal, who presented on "Anyone Can Generate Content. Nobody Can Generate Credibility," revealed that he had initially used AI to write his own presentation.
"It was polished. It had a beginning, middle and end. It had story, but it felt inorganic. It had no ownership and no substance and no human quality," he said. "I did not use it, however, because it was not mine to tell."
He said AI has now placed powerful content-production capabilities in the hands of virtually anyone with an internet connection, making credibility increasingly important for established media organisations.
"Anyone can generate content, but nobody can generate credibility," Sukhlal said.
He urged Caribbean broadcasters to make their existing standards of accountability more visible, including verifying information, disclosing synthetic content and maintaining human responsibility for published material.
"The standard already exists: disclosing what is synthetic, verifying what we source and keeping our human name behind what is stated," he said.
Sukhlal also called for greater media training, AI literacy and accreditation as more independent creators enter the information space.
"Between the smartphone and the national airwaves, there must be a procedural ladder — media training, AI literacy, accreditation pathways," he said.
Meanwhile, Ambassador Pedro Vaca Villarreal, Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights of the Organization of American States, said AI must complement rather than replace journalists.
"Editorial judgment, human verification and professional responsibility must remain firmly in human hands," Vaca Villarreal said.
He was speaking during a presentation on the Ricky Singh Initiative for Journalistic Excellence, which promotes 17 tenets intended to strengthen journalism across the Americas.
Vaca Villarreal said AI can help newsrooms transcribe interviews, translate material, analyse data and support investigations, but professional judgment remains essential.
"Technology can strengthen journalism and expand its capabilities," he said, stressing that journalists must continue to be guided by ethics, verification and public service.
The conference also called for greater Caribbean participation in discussions surrounding AI safety, copyright, data governance, synthetic media and platform accountability.
Speakers further urged broadcasters to make AI literacy, verification and cybersecurity into basic newsroom competencies and called for stronger regional fact-checking mechanisms as misinformation increasingly crosses borders and platforms.
The need to preserve Caribbean history and culture was also highlighted, with delegates encouraged to invest in digitising regional archives and ensuring Caribbean voices are adequately represented in the datasets shaping future AI systems.
The conference concluded with discussions involving regional media leaders on AI procurement, its practical use in Caribbean newsrooms and the future of broadcasting.