OMM Newsroom
Kazakhstan is considering rules to regulate the use of artificial intelligence in newsrooms, including a requirement to label AI-generated content. The proposal was discussed at the 10th edition of Astana Media Week. Digital threats and children’s online safety were also among the forum’s main topics.
Kanat Iskakov, Kazakhstan’s first deputy minister of culture and information, stressed the need for clear rules to ensure that journalism using AI meets professional standards.
Newsrooms are increasingly using AI to process information and produce content. At the same time, realistic AI-generated photos and videos make it harder to distinguish genuine footage from fabricated material.
The proposed rules aim to define how AI should be used in journalism and how content created with the technology should be identified.
People in Kazakhstan are also changing how they follow the news. Over the past decade, the share of the population with internet access has risen from 73% to 93%. Some 39% get their news from social networks and messaging apps.
Bloggers and Telegram channels are intensifying competition with traditional broadcasters. Media organizations are therefore seeking to produce content that meets the needs of digital audiences.
Dmitriy Mun, chief executive of Q.AI, predicted that within two to three years AI could produce much of the content for some radio programs and commentary. As automated content expands, he said, journalists’ main task will be not only to deliver information but also to earn public trust.
In this environment, fact-checking, accuracy and editorial independence may be crucial in distinguishing professional journalism from machine-generated content.
The forum also discussed the impact of digital technologies on children. According to the Kazakhstan Kids Online study, 46% of children surveyed first used the internet between the ages of 5 and 8, while 66% access social networks every day.
UNICEF representatives warned that online algorithms and AI chatbots can expose children to misinformation. Participants also considered the possibility of restricting social media access for children under 16, but no decision was announced.
The forum also explored ways to give Central Asia greater representation in international news coverage. Journalists from several media organizations, including AnewZ, discussed how to make regional topics more accessible and engaging for global audiences.
Discussions considered the interests of international audiences and how to explain complex regional events while preserving accuracy, context and the importance of local journalism.
