Kuala lumpur: Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) will continue to reinforce its role as the country's public broadcaster in the age of artificial intelligence (AI), managing both risks and opportunities while keeping public trust in its content.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, RTM director-general Ashwad Ismail emphasized that technological developments, including AI, should be viewed holistically. He urged the industry to see these advancements not as threats but as necessities to keep the broadcasting industry relevant. He posed critical questions about staying relevant in the years ahead and ensuring that human talent remains integral and is not replaced by robots. This, he noted, is a risk if the industry fails to adapt to change.

The director-general also highlighted opportunities presented by AI, focusing on how these technological advancements can improve the quality of talent and output. This philosophy is at the heart of RTM's strategy for navigating the AI era. The interview with Ashwad Ismail was broadcasted on Bernama TV's Malaysia Petang Ini, in conjunction with RTM's 80th anniversary, underscoring its long-standing role as the country's leading public broadcaster since 1946.

Ashwad further explained that balancing risks and opportunities is crucial for keeping the broadcaster competitive in a challenging media landscape. RTM has continually evolved with technological advances while maintaining its status as a key source of information for the public. Trust, he stated, is central to maintaining a media organization's credibility, especially in the digital era where technologies like deepfakes are emerging.

To address these challenges, RTM has established guidelines for using AI to ensure the technology is applied ethically and responsibly, particularly in news content production. Ashwad noted that the media industry is still in an experimental phase regarding the effectiveness of AI and highlighted the need to learn from the rapid rise of social media, which expanded without adequate regulation.