KUCHING: The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the broadcasting industry should not be seen as a reason to reduce the intake of fresh graduates.
Director-General of Broadcasting Malaysia Datuk Suhaimi Sulaiman stressed that young people must enhance their value and competitiveness to remain relevant in the eyes of employers.
“What matters now is how a graduate can equip themselves with additional skills beyond what they learned at university to meet the rapidly changing demands of the industry.
“Today’s journalism requires more than just news writing. Journalists must be tech-savvy, understand AI, and be capable of producing content across various platforms.
“Even if you hold a journalism degree, if you can do things better than what AI can offer, your value will be significantly higher,” he said when met after the closing of the Sarawak Media Conference (SMeC) 2025 here today.
He acknowledged that AI will inevitably take over certain repetitive tasks, but human input remains essential in producing high-quality and meaningful content.
“The jobs are still there, but we must come with a new set of skills that match new expectations. Our value must exceed what AI can perform automatically,” he added.
On RTM’s use of an AI-generated Mandarin newsreader, Suhaimi clarified that it was a temporary solution while waiting for a suitable permanent presenter.
“Many young people interested in broadcasting today prefer freelance work and are reluctant to commit to fixed schedules.
“Some don’t want to work on weekends; some don’t want to work on Mondays. So, we use AI as a stop-gap, and once we find the right person, we will revert to using them,” he explained.
