Asian media adopt AI with 'principled caution,' report finds

A new report, "Principled Caution: How AI is used in public-interest media in Asia," based on research across eight Asian countries, found that journalists largely use AI for translation, research and editing but rarely for core reporting. 

Respondents cited concerns about factual errors, bias, and damage to credibility associated with errors, bias and damage to credibility over the use of AI, leading to what researchers describe as "principled caution" in adoption.

AI use: fragmented rather than strategic

The report, produced by the Asia Centre, a civil society research institute headquartered in Bangkok, Thailand, also highlights major barriers, including limited funding, lack of training and dependence on Big Tech platforms, which keep AI use fragmented rather than strategic. 

"Public-interest journalists across Asia are telling us that AI is a tool they want to use, but only on terms that allow them to do their work with integrity," said Dr James Gomez, regional director of the Asia Centre. "Realizing this goal will require sustained technical assistance and capacity-building support — not only to enable responsible and ethical AI adoption, but also towards addressing the current accuracy limitations within existing AI systems."

Researchers say stronger safeguards, investment and coordination are needed for AI to support independent journalism without undermining trust.

Download the report below!

"We at DW Akademie Community of Practice are delighted that we could work with the leading pan-Asian organization Asia Centre," said Hélène Champagne, DW Akademie's program director for Ukraine and an editor on the report. 

"The 'principled caution' adoption by public interest media shows how the path towards AI integration requires a systemic approach that takes into account the real constraints of journalists. For this, the report provides a great basis to start making sense of how this new AI reality can serve the values of public interest media in Asia," she added.  

The report was produced as part of DW Akademie's Community of Practice on AI working group with support from the BMZ. The Asia team of DW Akademie also contributed to the selection process and provided feedback on the report.