TUNIS, Oct 30: Saad Al-Azmi, Assistant Undersecretary for Media Services and New Media at the Ministry of Information and Head of the New Media Committee at the Arab States Broadcasting Union (ASBU), emphasized the importance of adapting to advancements in digital intelligence technology and its applications in the media sector. He made these remarks during a speech at the meeting of the Permanent Committee for New Media at the ASBU's headquarters in Tunis.

Al-Azmi highlighted that the increasing focus on artificial intelligence in the media necessitates that Arab media institutions keep pace with these developments. He noted that the work of the New Media Committee at ASBU has been expanding due to the significance the union places on this field. He pointed out that, for the first time in the last session, a special competition focused on new media was included in the Arab Radio and Television Festival.

During the meeting's opening, ASBU Director General Abdul Rahim Suleiman discussed the growing global interest among radio unions regarding the implications of artificial intelligence for media applications, which can have both positive and negative effects. He stated that the ASBU has developed a work plan to address these issues, ensuring that its member organizations stay updated on the latest technological advancements. This includes providing news exchange services via its cloud platform and offering training courses on the use of artificial intelligence in media production and broadcasting.

Suleiman also emphasized that the union exemplifies the application of artificial intelligence technologies by utilizing them for various events and activities, including the announcement of results for competitions at the Arab Radio and Television Festival.

The committee reviewed a report from the News and Program Exchange Center, focusing on the use of mobile journalism for producing news reports, particularly in conflict and war zones. This includes documenting Israeli actions in the Palestinian territories through citizen and activist mobile phone footage, which is verified before use.

Committee members also learned about training courses conducted on topics related to digital media, social media, and the use of artificial intelligence in radio and television production and broadcasting at the Arab Training Center in Damascus and the Union Academy for Media Training.