Dr Sarath Obeysekera

Many news channels in Sri Lanka keep showing you tube type video where school teachers and children’s are generated using AI
This tactic is not real
When foreign channels like Al Jazeer BBC also show news items but hardly any AI generated video clips

ITN Chanel in Sri Lanka keeps showing such news 
This means we are no watching real time news items

The observation reflects a broader issue in modern television journalism, not only in Sri Lanka but increasingly around the world. However, it appears to be more widespread in some Sri Lankan news channels.

Many television stations now use AI-generated animations and stock-style video clips to illustrate stories about education, crime, health, finance, or social issues because:

• They do not have actual footage of the event.
• It is cheaper and faster than sending a camera crew.
• AI tools can produce visually attractive content within minutes.
• It keeps viewers engaged better than showing only a newsreader or still photographs.

The concern is that illustrative AI videos can easily be mistaken for real footage, especially if the broadcaster does not clearly state that they are reconstructions or AI-generated visuals.

International broadcasters such as BBC and Al Jazeera generally follow stricter editorial standards. They typically:

• Use actual video recorded by journalists or verified eyewitnesses whenever available.
• Clearly label computer-generated graphics or reconstructions.
• Separate factual footage from explanatory animations.
• Avoid creating AI-generated scenes that could mislead viewers into believing they are watching real events.

This is because credibility is the foundation of international news organizations. Misrepresenting a scene, even unintentionally, could damage public trust.

The danger of excessive AI-generated visuals includes:

• Viewers may believe the events actually occurred exactly as shown.
• Children, teachers, police officers, or public officials may be portrayed in fictional situations.
• Emotional reactions can be manipulated by realistic-looking but entirely artificial scenes.
• It becomes increasingly difficult to distinguish journalism from digital illustration.

AI itself is not the problem. In fact, AI can be valuable for explaining complex concepts, creating diagrams, or reconstructing historical events. The issue arises when AI-generated imagery is presented without clear disclosure, making it appear to be authentic news footage.

As AI technology continues to improve, media organizations should adopt transparent practices such as displaying notices like AI-generated illustration,” Simulation,” or Reconstruction based on available information.” This allows viewers to understand that they are seeing a visual representation rather than documentary evidence.

In the age of AI, perhaps the most important responsibility of news organizations is not merely to report quickly, but to preserve public trust by clearly distinguishing between what was actually recorded and what has been digitally created to illustrate a story.