BY: Mustapha Lawal
Dr Raheemat Adeniran, an associate professor at the Department of Mass Communications, Fountain University, Osogbo, has advocated for the ethical use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools to protect educational materials’ sanctity.
The university don made this call on Thursday, 16th May 2024 at the Media and Digital Rights Conference held at Eti-Osa lecture theater within her school premises.
Presenting a keynote address on the theme of the conference: Shaping the Future of Truthful Reporting, she said this to about 250 audience members including students, lecturers, media practitioners and experts on fact-checking, artificial intelligence and digital security.
“Students are increasingly becoming reliant on the use of several Language Learning Model (LLM) to complete their course works (assignments, research and classworks). Due to unethical usage of these tools, the quality of education has become eroded,” the associate professor explained.
Dr Raheemat called on all higher institutions of learning to evolve and adapt to accommodate the use of this technology “that has come to stay” in a bid to preserve the quality of education. “Institutions of learning must create guidelines for students to use AI tools ethically to protect the integrity of the education system”
The conference, a part of FactCheckAfrica’s ongoing effort to preserve the information ecosystem, represents a significant milestone in ensuring every sector of our society is carried along and improves in its standards through the ethical use and deployment of AI tools.
The event also featured a panelist session, moderated by Olasupo Abideen, the Global Director of BBYDI on the theme “Harnessing AI to Combat Information Pollution: Ensuring Inclusivity for Grassroots Communities”.
Panellists who shared insights at the session include Wasiu Ajadosu, the Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Osun State; Bisola Ariwodola, the Chairperson of the National Association of Women Journalists Osun; Bola Bamgbola, State Correspondent for Punch Newspaper, and Evelyn Ohiolei, Rave FM.
