Journalists must learn to “write for AI as well as humans” as artificial intelligence increasingly shapes how audiences consume news, Faisal J. Abbas, editor-in-chief of Arab News, said at the Saudi Media Forum in Riyadh.
Speaking during the panel discussion titled “Fifty Years of Transformation: The Evolution of Arab News’ Editorial Voice,” Abbas said newsrooms must adapt to the growing influence of AI-driven platforms by improving how journalists interact with technology.
“I think what we need to do is now train ourselves to become better at talking to machines, at briefing machines, at prompting AI,” he said. “And then we will enable AI to help us become more influential, reach more audience, and indeed, more knowledgeable ourselves.”
Abbas noted that technological advancements were moving faster than academia, regulation and social norms, making early media literacy increasingly important.
“If we’re going to allow kids that young to consume media, that media literacy, in my point of view, needs to start at a much earlier stage than reaching college,” he said.
He warned that journalism globally was grappling with a “crisis of truth” fuelled by the rapid spread of misinformation. Abbas added that the growing dominance of major technology companies had made it harder for traditional media outlets — even those that have undergone digital transformation — to sustainably monetize credible journalism.
Despite these challenges, Abbas said the role of journalists had become more vital than ever.
“There couldn’t be a more important time for the job that we do as journalists. We just need to update our tools,” he said.
Reflecting on Arab News’ evolution, Abbas said the publication’s editorial voice had developed in parallel with Saudi Arabia’s social and economic transformation.
“We should be the mirror of society,” he said, pointing to the Kingdom’s increasing openness to people from around the world contributing to its cities, industries and cultural life.
As part of that approach, Abbas cited Arab News’ decision to acknowledge major religious and cultural occasions, including Christmas.
“If we are going to be that welcoming society, then why not celebrate Christmas in our newspaper and wish people who are here in the Kingdom a ‘Merry Christmas,’ as well as our Christian leaders worldwide?” he said.
He noted that Christian communities exist beyond Europe and North America, including among Arab populations, and said the same principle of inclusion applied to other faiths, including Judaism.
Abbas also highlighted Arab News’ Minority Reports series, which profiles ethnic and religious communities across the region, including the Druze, Copts and Jewish communities.
