In a significant stride towards combating misinformation in Nigeria, Dubawa, a project of the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), has launched innovative AI tools.
These tools, including the Dubawa Chatbot and the Dubawa Audio platform, were unveiled on Monday during the Journalism, Digital Tech, and AI dialogue in Abuja.
Real-Time Fact-Checking with Dubawa Chatbot
The Dubawa Chatbot, an artificial intelligence tool, is designed to provide accurate and timely responses to inquiries about viral misinformation and disinformation. Monsur Hussain, the head of Innovation at CJID, highlighted the tool’s capability to access real-time internet data, setting it apart from other AI tools like ChatGPT and MetaAI.
“Unlike other AI tools that do not have access to real-time internet data, the Dubawa Chatbot can give up-to-date responses. For instance, when asked if Sanusi Lamido had been reinstated as the Emir of Kano, the Dubawa AI confirmed the reinstatement hours after it happened, while MetaAI inaccurately stated that Mr. Sanusi was removed in 2020 and had not been reinstated,” Hussain explained.
The chatbot was put to the test by PREMIUM TIMES, and it responded accurately and swiftly. When asked, “Who is Dubawa Chatbot?” it provided a concise answer along with ten web links as evidence.
Similarly, it confirmed that President Bola Tinubu’s government had initiated a review of airport concessions, providing seven web links to support its response.
Monitoring Radio Misinformation with Dubawa Audio
The Dubawa Audio platform is another innovative tool designed to monitor radio programs, transcribe them, and extract verifiable claims for fact-checking. Hussain emphasized the importance of this tool, noting,
“Radio is a mass source of information in Africa. Many people listen to the radio daily, but due to its transient nature, it is challenging to track and verify claims made on it.”
The Dubawa Audio platform addresses this challenge by monitoring specific radio programs and ensuring that information disseminated via radio can be tracked and verified.
Collaborative Efforts and Additional AI Tools
The event also featured presentations of other AI tools by various organizations. Nelson Olanipekun, CEO of Citizen Gavel, showcased PodusAI, a tool capable of answering legal questions and drafting comprehensive documents like Freedom of Information (FOI) letters or petitions.
Femi Amele, Director of Dataphyte, demonstrated NubiaAI, which assists journalists in drafting stories from available datasets. Israel Tijani, a Data Scientist, introduced ChatVE, an AI tool that can fact-check posts on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and X by being tagged in comments.
A Platform for Dialogue
The AI dialogue organized by CJID was held at the Abuja Continental Hotel and brought together speakers and participants from the media, civil society organizations, and academia.
The discussions focused on “the current state of AI and digital transformation in media and CSO practice in Nigeria, the opportunities and challenges posed by AI, and the ethical and safety concerns surrounding its adoption.”
Dapo Olorunyomi, CEO of CJID and Publisher of Premium Times, underscored the significance of these innovations.
“The tools we are launching today are crucial in our fight against misinformation. They provide real-time verification, ensuring that Nigerians can access accurate information swiftly,” he said.
As the digital information space continues to evolve, the Dubawa AI tools and its partners represent a proactive approach to safeguarding the integrity of information in Nigeria.
With the launch of these tools, Nigerians now have robust resources to combat misinformation and ensure the dissemination of credible information.