AI experts urge human oversight in journalism and tourism sectors

Experts and industry leaders across the Pacific and India are emphasizing that artificial intelligence should serve as a supportive tool rather than a replacement for human judgment in journalism and tourism.

At the 8th Pacific Media Summit in Fiji, media professionals argued that while AI can handle routine tasks like transcription and document sorting, it cannot replicate the trust, cultural expertise, and community relationships built by journalists. Kevyn Wahuzue, founder of Kanaky Tech, warned Pacific newsrooms against over-dependence on overseas AI providers, urging them to maintain control over their own data, archives, and editorial lines to ensure independence.

In the tourism sector, a national symposium in India highlighted the need for AI-driven policies that support planning and service delivery without displacing local knowledge or cultural values. Experts noted that while AI can assist in decision-making, human oversight is essential to safeguard livelihoods and prevent algorithmic bias. Meanwhile, in the travel industry, tour operators are reporting a growing trend of customers being referred to businesses directly via large language models like ChatGPT, noting that these AI-driven leads often show higher intent to book.