Journalists Must Verify AI-Generated Content: Principal Secretary Brijesh Singh

Mumbai, Nov 2025 : Verification of AI-generated content has now become essential, as special tools developed for deepfake detection can analyze 15–20 different parameters. At the same time, fact-checking organizations do not verify every fact, which can lead to bias. “Bias in AI is a major global concern today,” said Brijesh Singh, Principal Secretary and Director General, Directorate General of Information & Public Relations (DGIPR).

He was speaking at an Artificial Intelligence training workshop for print and digital media journalists, jointly organized by the Tata–Maharashtra State Skills University and the Mantralaya & Legislature Reporters Association at Mantralaya.

Principal Secretary Brijesh Singh stated that AI is not a source of truth. It can transform information, summarize it, or present it differently, but it cannot determine what is true. New-generation tools (such as real-time search-capable AI) can gather information from multiple sources and instantly produce summaries. While these tools give journalists quick references and make reporting faster, he stressed that the sources of such information must always be verified. Drawing conclusions based solely on AI-generated references without human verification can be risky. Therefore, human oversight and verification must remain mandatory, he emphasized.

Singh warned that journalists should be cautious before uploading sensitive or confidential material on online tools. Questions asked online, uploaded content, and search traces are permanently stored and may be retrieved during legal investigations. Hence, understanding procedural and legal implications while sharing confidential information is crucial.

He added that AI can sometimes generate false references, making it dangerous to rely on AI for scientific or legal matters. Deepfake creation has become easy, but detection is becoming increasingly difficult. He noted that at the international level, regulations such as watermarking AI-generated content are now being implemented.

Principal Secretary Singh underlined that while artificial intelligence is a powerful tool, journalists must prioritize source verification, privacy protection, legal responsibilities, and human supervision when using it. He recommended that sensitive investigations be conducted offline, in encrypted environments, and on local GPU-based systems.

He also said that as technology evolves rapidly, journalists must stay continuously updated about changes in journalistic practices and legal frameworks.