(NB&CL) “The core value of photojournalism is authenticity. The reality of life is something that exists forever in photojournalism, even though artificial intelligence is “monopolizing”, it cannot replace the labor of photojournalists” - journalist Ho Sy Minh affirmed in a conversation with the Journalist and Public Opinion Newspaper about the story “Artificial intelligence and Vietnamese photojournalism”.
AI only meets visual needs, not informational needs.
+ Artificial intelligence is so "noisy" that we have to sit down to discuss it. In your opinion, is AI a pressure or an opportunity for photojournalism?
- In the current period, AI is actually an opportunity, a very good opportunity but also creates many challenges. The important thing is how we grasp and apply it so that it goes in the right direction and is under control so that it can better serve our work. As for photography, it is not now, but the change in this field is a journey associated with technology, changing with technology for a long time. From film cameras to digital cameras, there have been great changes, now with artificial intelligence, the change is many times stronger...
In fact, at this time, not many newsrooms in Vietnam use AI to intervene in photos, perhaps from the leaders and photojournalists, they all understand its nature very well. From a professional perspective, I think that press photos have the value of providing current information, reality to prove that events and incidents are accurate... then absolutely do not use AI to intervene in the content and nature of the message of the image to ensure the highest honesty and objectivity.
As for photos or groups of photos that require aesthetics and attract the public, and can often be used to cut and paste as cover photos according to the editorial office's intention... we will use AI to a sufficient and appropriate extent to have sharper and more beautiful photo products but absolutely not change the emotions, character nature, background details and event content. For commercial photos or embedded advertising photos that require deep AI intervention, there should be clear captions to avoid misunderstandings...
Journalist Ho Sy Minh – Permanent Vice President of Vietnam Association of Photographic Artists, Editor-in-Chief of Photography and Life Magazine
+ Sir, so using AI appropriately in photojournalism will help journalists and editorial offices improve work efficiency and attract readers?
- I do not deny the benefits that AI tools bring to photojournalism, but it should only be considered a "virtual assistant", a tool in the stages of idea building, simple photo editing, using photos created by AI is only an illustration, not a photojournalistic work. And my consistent point of view is that, for photojournalism, absolutely do not use photos from AI. Journalism must be taken directly and truthfully. Because the strongest point of photojournalism is honesty, it is objective reality through the lens of a journalist.
One of my concerns is that the copyright issue currently has no legal framework. This leads to the use of AI as a tool in the field of photography still being "cautious". The Vietnam Association of Photographic Artists has built a website for members to post photos to spread information to the public, but it is finished but there is not enough basis to protect the copyright of the authors, so it has not been implemented yet. We have millions of photos but cannot post them because if the copyright is not protected, the works will be stolen and used as data for AI to use, and at that time it can "transform" into millions of other images and no longer have copyright, no longer have authenticity.
Without data, AI cannot do anything.
+ I completely sympathize with your concerns. But will those pressures gradually become a “stifling force” for photojournalists’ creativity? To what extent is there competition between AI and current photojournalists, sir?
- In my opinion, that is just a difficulty, not an obstacle that reduces the enthusiasm of reporters, but that is the motivation for us to overcome.
You can imagine that, under such pressure, we ourselves must apply it skillfully and flexibly so that AI is truly a tool to serve us better and cannot replace the real creative labor of the professional. The core value of photojournalism is authenticity. The reality of life is something that exists forever in photojournalism, even though artificial intelligence is "monopolizing", it cannot replace the labor and direct work of photojournalists. Therefore, photojournalism always has special value because AI does not take real photos by itself, but only when reporters upload photos does it create data for it to draw, cut, process, and create products.
Without our data, from human production, there would be no AI-generated images. Therefore, for images, I think it is very difficult for AI to compete with the labor of journalists. Each professional must determine that they cannot be easy with the products under their name.
+ But the concern is that the public will easily accept "beautiful, eye-catching" AI products and gradually that abuse will cause professionals to lose their position?
- It is true that there are concerns when the public has too much information and images around, but I think the press should be the last one to guide public opinion. I remember, 30 years ago, a Reuters reporter used Photoshop to add a little smoke to a photo of a fire to increase the seriousness of the incident, and was immediately fired from the newsroom. If that was done 30 years ago, then that discipline and order must be tightened even more now.
In reality, AI can only satisfy visual needs but not information needs and the need to grasp reality. And editorial offices as well as each journalist must clearly identify that. Professional self-respect and the ability to orient society will create standards. Standards... are also the measure, the boundary for how to use AI. This also requires knowledge and skills training sessions to orient, elevate culture, and improve skills in creating photographic works under the pressure of AI...
+ Yes, thank you!
Ha Van (Implementation)
Source: https://www.congluan.vn/intelligence-human-can-not-replace-the-suc-lao-dong-cua-phong-vien-anh-post338272.html
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