Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping education, business and the media – but society is lagging behind when it comes to digital literacy, according to Professor Andy Miah, Chair of Science Communication and Future Media at the University of Salford.
Speaking on the This is MediaCity podcast, to be released on Friday, Miah told host Stephen Chapman that the rise of AI-generated content is creating new ethical challenges.
“There is an assault on reality taking place right now,” he said. “And it’s even more pernicious than that. The use of AI to generate materials that are originating from the original, if you like, the authentic voice, but actually are AI generated entirely, is becoming a business model for content creation.”
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Miah, a leading thinker on the future of media and technology, warned that education systems have failed to prepare young people for a digital-first world.
“We have in the round failed to provide digital literacy across the education spectrum from primary all the way up to university,” he said.
He argues that universities must take the lead in creating public-facing, research-driven environments that not only embrace emerging technologies like AI and VR, but also grapple with the moral, ethical and legal challenges they pose.
Miah also highlighted the importance of adaptability in the workplace as technology continues to evolve. “The best thing you can do, I think, to protect your future in your role, is to understand the technology and keep that agility in what you do,” he said.
The wide-ranging conversation touches on AI’s impact across creative industries, sports such as eSports, and major organisations like the Olympic Games, which are already exploring AI integration for archiving, content creation and broadcasting.
The full interview with Prof Andy Miah will be available on This is MediaCity this Friday. Listen here:
