National Press Day: PCI warns against AI-driven misinformation; ‘Human judgement irreplaceable’

DIMAPUR — As India marked National Press Day amid growing concerns over misinformation amplified by artificial intelligence, top media regulators and industry leaders underscored that safeguarding press credibility has become a national responsibility.

Speaking at the National Media Centre in New Delhi on Saturday, Press Council of India (PCI) Chairperson Justice (Retd.) Ranjana Prakash Desai said that while AI may assist newsroom workflows, it can “never replace the human mind—the judgement, conscience and sense of responsibility that must guide every journalist.”

She urged media houses to prioritise verification over haste and guard against the misuse of emerging technologies.

Justice Desai reiterated the PCI’s dual mandate of defending press freedom while maintaining standards.

She asserted that the council continues to deploy inquiry committees and fact-finding teams to address lapses and urged journalists to verify every fact before publication.

She also underscored the financial security for media workers, pointing to welfare schemes, insurance, and PCI internship programmes aimed at strengthening ethical newsroom practices.

While acknowledging AI’s utility, she cautioned that the PCI remains vigilant against its misuse.

“However advanced these tools may become, they can never replace the conscience and judgement of a human being,” she said.

Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw graced the event as chief guest. Union Minister of State for I&B Dr. L Murugan, I&B Secretary Sanjay Jaju and PCI Secretary Shubha Gupta were also present.

Delivering the keynote address, CEO of PTI Vijay Joshi called for a fundamental shift in newsroom priorities.

“Let accuracy take over speed in traditional media, and AI-algorithm-led engagements in the digital space,” he said, warning that both paid news and engagement-driven digital platforms have eroded public trust.

Joshi pointed out that that the Covid pandemic had demonstrated how quickly truth and misinformation can merge, a challenge now intensified by AI-generated content.

He stressed that press freedom “is not a licence to pollute the information ecosystem,” adding that journalism must uphold fairness, independence and verifiable truth.

He highlighted PTI’s long-standing tradition of multi-layered fact checking and emphasised the need to train the next generation of journalists in ethics and critical thinking.