The 2023 unveiling of ‘Sana,’ India Today’s first AI news anchor, ignited the debate over the future of human journalism in the country.

The launch, following global steps by China’s Xinhua and Russia’s Svoye TV, showcased the efficiency of AI bots—bright, tireless, and multilingual. However, this enthusiasm is matched by deep concern from media columnists like Pamela Philipose, who warn that the potential for AI to create disinformation by design is a multi-layered problem, making traditional “fake news” seem like child’s play. Others worry that investigative journalism and human observation are irreplaceable, and AI threatens job security by automating tasks.

 “The more multi-layered problem is the potential AI has to create disinformation by design,” warns one columnist, while others suggest journalists must “be prepared to change and adapt… or perish.”

“As AI becomes integrated into Indian newsrooms, can the industry leverage its efficiency (boon) without fundamentally compromising the human expertise, observation, and credibility (bane) that underpins democracy?”