Assessing Objectivity and Bias in the Functioning of Pakistani AI News Anchors

Abstract

The research investigates the perceived objectivity and bias in the application of AI anchorpersons in Pakistani journalism industry. The study was anchored by two main research queries; (1) how objectivity is represented through AI anchors, and (2) how perceived bias differs between human and AI news presenters. Qualitative approach has been adopted, and data was collected through in-depth interviews from practicing journalists. Findings suggest that Pakistani journalists perceive that technology of artificial intelligence and synthetic digital anchors are more objective and less biased than human journalists, linking it with the absence of cultural and political association of AI newsmen. On the other side, human broadcasters are more inclined towards certain political and religious ideologies. However, the investigation also uncovers that in Pakistani media, AI anchors do not contribute in the production of news; rather, human media professionals edit and filter the news content before it is broadcasted by digital non-human anchors. The intervention of human agency in the news producing process raises reservations that the noticeable objectivity of machine may contain inherit biases. The machinal objectivity of AI technology in an ideal state is also labeled more dangerous to the fabric of human society, than the natural biasness of human media professionals.