By Solange Tegwi
Contrary to widespread predictions that artificial intelligence (AI) could soon replace humans, the Director of the Advanced School of Mass Communication (ESSTIC), Professor François Marc Modzom, has firmly dismissed such claims. He stated, emphatically, that AI has not come to replace humanity, but rather to reinforce human endeavor.
He made the remarks during an academic and professional conference organized by Year Two Journalism students of ESSTIC in the run-up to the commemoration of World Radio Day. The conference was held under the theme: “Radio in the Era of Artificial Intelligence: Heritages, Mutations and Horizons.”
Professor Modzom explained that artificial intelligence serves to improve, accelerate and facilitate human working conditions. He described it as a powerful tool, even in fields such as fishing, where it can be used to identify precisely where fish are located.
“Young people of the new generation must be optimistic; stop thinking that everything is going to crumble. It is not possible, and besides, you do not have a choice,” he said.
“We have come a long way — further than your generation can even imagine. We used to spend entire nights in the studio under poor lighting conditions, which made the work even more difficult. In our time, producing program such as Dimanche Midi or Politude required staying up all night, sometimes for several days. We occasionally returned home exhausted and unwell. Today, you can work effortlessly from your bed. Thanks to AI, editing radio programs has become far easier and less time-consuming than in the past. With a computer mouse or even a mobile phone, you can edit an entire program in the blink of an eye.”
However, he cautioned students against misusing AI tools. “My advice to students is not to cheat by turning to ChatGPT to complete their assignments, thereby giving teachers the impression that the work is entirely their own. They must make the effort to work independently and use AI only to refine their output. If they rely solely on AI, they will remain ignorant of how things are done.”
Artificial intelligence is here to stay, noted veteran journalist Chetah Bilé, who also addressed the hundreds of students. He urged Africans to use the technology wisely and strategically. “When you enter a request into AI, much of the information provided reflects Western realities, which may not align with our context. Therefore, when formulating your requests, incorporate our specificities — our culture, lifestyle and beliefs,” he advised.
The presence of 85-year-old CRTV radio reporter, Abel Mbengue, added a memorable touch to the event, captivating the audience of aspiring journalists. His words resonated deeply with the students. “Your prosperity lies in your integrity towards your nation…,” he counselled.
Sharing her perspective, one of the Year Two Journalism students, Bassong Anne Calixte, observed that as long as humans exist, artificial intelligence will also exist — because every AI action is prompted by humans. “It is the human being who gives instructions to the machine and asks the AI tool to perform specific tasks. AI does not act independently; it operates based on human input,” she said.
In today’s fast-paced environment, she added, journalists must become more responsive and more creative. This requires mastering AI tools while remaining professional and ethical, and always adhering to the fundamental principles of journalism.
