Xinhua Leads Push for AI Adoption in African Newsrooms

NAIROBI, Kenya: Xinhua News Agency on Tuesday stepped up efforts to shape the conversation on artificial intelligence (AI) in journalism, convening a training workshop in Nairobi that drew nearly 100 editors and reporters from across Africa.

The half-day session, themed “The Rise of AI and Its Impact on Journalism”, was organized by Xinhua’s Africa Regional Bureau and conducted in a hybrid format. It offered media professionals insights into how automation and machine learning are transforming news production while raising questions around ethics, bias, and credibility.

Xinhua used the forum to highlight its own progress in adopting AI throughout its news pipeline, from information gathering and research to editing and dissemination.

In a virtual address, Chen Yingying, associate professor at Renmin University of China, said AI should be seen as an assistive technology that boosts efficiency without replacing human journalists. She pointed to applications such as transcription, data analysis, and graphics generation, while cautioning against risks like misinformation and algorithmic bias.

Kenyan media leaders welcomed the initiative. Rosalia Omungo, CEO of the Kenya Editors’ Guild, said Xinhua’s experience offers valuable lessons for African newsrooms. “AI is coming to provide efficiency, to augment systems that are already in place,” she noted, stressing the need for continuous training to accelerate responsible adoption.

Patrick Vidija, digital editor at the Standard Media Group, described the seminar as “timely,” saying it broadened journalists’ understanding of how to integrate AI into reporting.

The Nairobi workshop also placed Kenya at the heart of a broader global conversation on how AI will reshape journalism. From transparency in AI-generated content to newsroom preparedness and regulatory frameworks, participants agreed that African media must balance innovation with accountability.

By spearheading such discussions, Xinhua has positioned itself as a key player in guiding African newsrooms through the digital transition. The agency’s leadership, participants said, is helping ensure AI becomes a tool to strengthen journalism rather than undermine it.

By Fauxile Kibet (With addditional reporting by Xinhua News Agecny).