London-based Arabic newspaper Elaph has officially launched its AI news anchor, Hala Al Wardi, marking a significant milestone as one of the first digital-native Arabic news platforms to invest in artificial intelligence. Elaph's founder, Othman Al-Omair, had previously announced the newspaper's commitment to AI in May, making it the pioneering publication in this domain.
As the first Arab online daily twenty-two years ago, Elaph recognized the potential of virtual news delivery. Now, it looks to the future of accurate news by acknowledging the substantial role played by artificial intelligence in the media landscape. According to Caledonia Edmond, Head of Partnerships at Elaph, AI, and journalism will forge a symbiotic relationship, revolutionizing both news reporting and the news-audience dynamic.
The AI component, developed in collaboration with Virtual Minds, a specialist in media and digital technologies, goes by the name of Advancia.ai. Edmond highlighted that Advancia will serve various functions within the publication, offering customizable news services, AI-based human-like news anchors, and news credibility checks. These features aim to enhance the delivery of personalized, accessible, and credible content to Elaph's audience, while also creating an immersive experience.
Despite the growing adoption of AI, concerns have been raised regarding the potential for generating false information and images more easily than humans. Al-Omair, however, remains confident, acknowledging the existence of fake stories and pictures but expressing belief that people will adapt and learn to use AI correctly.
Elaph's adoption of AI aligns with its broader strategy of attracting younger audiences. Edmond expects tech-savvy youth to be the primary adopters of these new AI offerings, with other readers gradually embracing them over time. The newspaper also plans to strengthen its social media presence and engage with young individuals to create and feature content, aiming to capture the attention of a younger demographic.
Elaph's future plans encompass expanding its reach to a wider geography, including the publication of content in other languages such as Hebrew and Kurdish. The newspaper also intends to cater to minority groups like the Amazighs (Berbers) in Morocco, recognizing the importance of addressing neglected media fields.
After extensive development, Elaph believes the time is right to introduce its AI technology, positioning itself at the forefront of innovation in the digital-native Arabic news landscape.
