By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, July 17: Artificial intelligence (AI) is now capable of manipulating video and audio with high levels of realism, creating a growing challenge in distinguishing truth from deception, says Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier’s Department (Corporate Affairs, Information and UKAS) Datuk Abdullah Saidol.
This, he said, was among the growing challenges faced by the media fraternity amid rapid technological advancement, the explosion of social media and the increasing spread of misinformation.
“The threat to integrity and the spread of fake news through deepfake technology is real.
“AI is now capable of manipulating video and audio with great realism, blurring the boundary between truth and deception,” he said when speaking at the Sarawak Media Conference (SMEC) 2026 dinner held at Pullman Hotel here last night (July 16) in conjunction with National Journalists’ Day (HAWANA) 2026 celebrations.
Abdullah said the media industry was facing an increasingly complex environment, with journalists having to balance the pressure of delivering news quickly while ensuring accuracy through proper fact-checking.
He said the rise of social media had intensified the demand for instant news, leaving less room for verification, while the growing presence of citizen reporters and online content creators had increased competition for public attention.
At the same time, he warned that misinformation could spread rapidly through digital platforms, making credibility and ethical reporting more important than ever.
Abdullah also highlighted the role of AI in news production, including concerns over automated content generation and copyright issues involving the use of media content to train AI systems.
“Despite the advancement of digital technology, the role of ethical human journalists cannot be replaced by algorithms,” he said.
He added that strong support from the government and society was needed to ensure media practitioners could continue serving as a trusted source of information and a pillar in maintaining social harmony.
The dinner was officiated by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Amar Fadillah Yusof.
Also present were Sarawak Legislative Assembly Speaker Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar; Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts (Creative Industry and Performing Arts) Datuk Snowdan Lawan; Brunei’s Consul-General to Sarawak, Sheikh Abdul Mahdani Dato Paduka Sheikh Abdul Ghani; Sarawak Public Communication Unit (UKAS) director Awang Putrayusrie Awang Redzuan; and Sarawak Media Group chairperson Dato Norhyati Mohd Ismail. — DayakDaily
