BBC's Nkechi Ogbonna calls for regulation of AI

BBC's Focus on Africa podcast presenter, Nkechi Ogbonna, has underscored the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in shaping journalism in Africa and the need for governments to adopt and regulate its use.

Speaking exclusively to GhanaWeb's Etsey Atisu on The Lowdown, Ogbonna acknowledged that AI is transforming media globally, noting that its use cannot be avoided in modern journalism.

She stated that newsrooms can meet the growing demand for AI through its integration into their operations.

"The evolution of Artificial Intelligence. AI has come to stay, and every newsroom would get on board. Every information dissemination mechanism would have some form of Artificial Intelligence involved in their processes if they want to meet up with the current technology demands or current news needs of our audiences, whose appetite for content is very high, but attention span is very little, and so, a lot of work needs to be done into how we use AI," she said.

On the need for governments to regulate AI use, Ogbonna explained that the risks it poses cannot be ignored.

She highlighted how people often manipulate information using AI to misinform and mislead the public, effectively weaponising the technology in negative ways.

She called for clear policies and structures to be put in place to protect both creators and users of AI-generated content.

"But again, when it comes to the use of AI, we need to be very conscious about the governance around AI, the policies, the frameworks that protect the user of AI and the consumer of the AI content.

"It's very important that African governments also create regulatory frameworks to ensure that AI is helping and not being a nuisance, especially when it comes to people who are manipulating images, manipulating videos, who are creating non-existent content and using it as a weapon to push misinformation, which is very harmful to our communities," Ogbonna stated.

Nkechi Ogbonna further urged African nations to embrace technological advancements while simultaneously protecting their information ecosystems.

“It's important that we embrace the technology of the day. However, we need to regulate how we use it to protect ourselves and to protect those who are consuming the content that we are disseminating,” she noted.

About Nkechi Ogbonna

Nkechi is a seasoned journalist with more than a decade of storytelling that has amplified African voices and connected local events to global conversations.

At the BBC, she has served as West Africa Correspondent, Senior Journalist Reporter, and Interactive/Data Journalist, delivering breaking news and reports across TV, radio, text, podcasts, and digital platforms.

A Mandela Washington Fellow and respected voice in global conversations, Nkechi brings a rare combination of field experience, strategic insight, and a powerful network across Africa and beyond.

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