Artificial intelligence is no longer a topic that can be ignored as it has become deeply embedded in every aspect of human life. Understanding how it works, and how rapidly it is evolving, has become essential to keeping pace with the modern world while safeguarding the ethical values and moral principles that may be at risk as AI reshapes nearly every sector, including journalism and the media.

The central question today is: What are the main challenges journalism faces in the age of artificial intelligence? And does AI threaten the role of the journalist?

In an interview with Kataeb.org, Dr. Sally Hammoud, an expert in artificial intelligence and media, explained that journalism is among the professions most directly impacted by AI. She noted that the expansion of digital content has helped accelerate AI’s capabilities, affecting several core aspects of journalism in terms of how news and content are produced, and how audiences consume them.

According to Hammoud, readers now turn to new types of news sources, whereas social media platforms were once their first stop. This shift has pushed media organizations to rethink and adjust their strategies, moving toward smart newsrooms an other innovations to align with evolving audience behaviors.

Hammoud pointed out that some users no longer rely on social media or traditional news websites for information. Instead, they turn to advanced language models such as ChatGPT to get the news they need.

Speaking to Kataeb.org, Hammoud revealed that many people no longer rely on social media or even traditional news websites, but are instead turning to new language models such as ChatGPT.

On the challenges facing journalism in the age of AI, Hammoud highlighted a structural transformation within media institutions themselves, emphasizing the growing need for a Chief AI Officer. Such a role requires a professional who combines expertise in journalism, consumer behavior, and technology to identify and integrate the best available tools.

Citing the Digital News Report 2025 from the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, Hammoud noted that across 48 markets worldwide, 7% of people now use AI-powered chatbots as a weekly news source, a figure that rises to 15% among those under 25. The report also found that audiences show a relatively high willingness to use AI for news summarization (27%), translation (24%), content recommendations (21%), and asking chatbots for news (18%), though skepticism remains high about accuracy and transparency.

Moreover, a peer-reviewed academic study (2024–2025) found that the use of AI tools in Arab newsrooms remains limited, standing at just 6.2%, according to earlier data by Al-Zou’bi & Fyadh (2023), due to challenges related to Arabic language processing, limited resources, bias, and the need for locally tailored solutions.

Meanwhile, AI adoption among the general public in the Gulf region has grown rapidly. Recent studies show a sharp rise in the use of generative AI tools among users in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, with 58% of respondents in a 2025 survey reporting regular use. Hammoud said this surge in adoption adds further pressure on newsrooms to adapt, innovate, and stay relevant in a rapidly evolving digital landscape and audience expectations.