Caribbean media encouraged to lead on AI development

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Caribbean media organisations have been urged to play a leading role in shaping the region’s emerging artificial intelligence (AI) landscape, rather than merely consuming technologies and standards developed elsewhere.

The call was made by Guyana’s Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Information and Public Affairs, Kwame McCoy, during the keynote presentation at a session of the Caribbean Broadcasting Union (CBU) 57th Annual General Assembly (AGA), held on August 19 at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre in Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara, Guyana.

He noted that AI is rapidly transforming the media industry, reshaping areas, including research, translation, archiving, audience engagement, content production and distribution.

McCoy cautioned that the rise of synthetic media is making it increasingly challenging for citizens to distinguish authentic information from fabricated content, noting that artificial voices, images, videos and headlines can influence public opinion before the truth has an opportunity to catch up.

The minister encouraged stakeholders to begin to direct “this new global information order”, questioning whether the region should simply accept an AI-driven communications design created elsewhere or, alternatively, cultivate the confidence, investment, regulatory foresight and political will needed to help shape it.

McCoy noted that the Caribbean’s posture towards AI must go beyond technology and should address issues of sovereignty, data ownership, algorithmic control, platform accountability, and the economic value of Caribbean content.

He emphasised that the ability to tell the Caribbean story remains fundamental, noting that communication plays a critical role in shaping national consciousness, informing public policy and building public trust.

McCoy also highlighted the opportunities created by the democratisation of information, noting that citizens with smartphones in Georgetown, Kingston, Bridgetown and other Caribbean communities can now communicate with global audiences almost instantly.

However, he cautioned that the same technologies can be exploited by malicious actors to create fake photographs, impersonate ministers and journalists, and disseminate fabricated headlines using the branding of reputable media organisations.

Against this backdrop, the minister said media literacy, fact-checking, professional journalism and public-interest broadcasting must remain central pillars of the region’s democratic infrastructure.

He said Caribbean journalists and communications professionals must acquire new competencies, including data journalism, digital verification, metadata analysis, geolocation and synthetic media detection, while leveraging AI tools to improve accessibility, enhance archive searches and boost newsroom efficiency.

At the same time, McCoy stressed that human judgment must remain at the centre of journalism, given the importance of civic responsibility, institutional memory and an understanding of the region’s cultures, dialects, communities and political experiences.

The minister called on Caribbean media organisations and the CBU to move decisively from discussion to action by developing clear standards governing AI disclosure, synthetic content, source protection, AI-assisted reporting, and newsroom accountability.

He also encouraged the CBU to strengthen regional verification mechanisms and develop datasets that can help ensure Caribbean people, cultures and experiences are accurately represented in future AI systems.

“The Caribbean Broadcasting Union, drawing on 57 years of institutional experience and the collective strength represented in this room today, can help our region to create, influence and lead within this new global information order,” McCoy stated.

The AGA was held under the theme ‘Caribbean Media and Artificial Intelligence’.

—    JIS