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Standard of living Nigeria gathered that a neighborhood alive to by socioeconomic style in Africa has launched an Synthetic Intelligence (AI)-powered truth-checking platform to counter the spread of misinformation and disinformation on the continent.

Speaking on the disclosing of the AI-powered platform, named, ‘MyAIFactChecker’ on Monday in Ilorin, the World Director of a Nigeria-based totally non-income group, Brain Builders Adolescence Pattern Initiative (BBYDI), Abideen Olasupo, said that FactCheck Africa, an initiative of the BBYDI, was as soon as launched in 2022 as an unbiased, non-partisan and non-income truth-checking platform for Africans.

“MyAIFactChecker was as soon as a product of months of devoted effort and research, with toughen from BECERA and the US Pronounce Department, noting that the initiative would revolutionise how Africans confirm recordsdata and other online recordsdata.

“MyAIFactChecker is an illustration of our group’s unwavering dedication to combating the scourge of misinformation, disinformation, and counterfeit recordsdata, thereby safeguarding the integrity of recordsdata. This platform leverages cutting-edge AI know-how, is user-pleasant, and capacity that you simply can confirm the authenticity of recordsdata, social media posts, and other online order material mercurial and very simply.”

Olasupo also said that the revolutionary platform would supply customers with a range of functionalities, including a chatbot interface, feedback mechanism, and advanced search functionality that’s accessible in English, Swahili, French, Arabic, and quite a few other major local languages in Nigeria.

Based on him, the launch of MyAIFactChecker comes at a critical time, as the proliferation of disinformation and harmful content continues to pose serious threats to the integrity of elections, democracy, public health, and stability in African nations.

The BBDYI world director, who said the influence of counterfeit information and disinformation on elections cannot be ignored, expressed optimism that his organisation’s newly launched AI fact-checking would help combat the spread of disinformation in African nations preparing to hold elections this year.

“It is remarkable to note that 2024 is a year of elections in Africa as about 24 countries on the continent will hold elections this year.

During election periods, there is always a proliferation of counterfeit information, and its attendant penalties could negatively influence the electoral process.

With the launch of MyAIFactChecker, we are poised to curb the spread of misinformation and disinformation before, during, and after elections in these affected countries.

“We believe that access to accurate information is a fundamental right, and we are committed to empowering individuals with the tools to discern truth from falsehood in this digital age. We will continue to promote media literacy and critical thinking across Africa,” he said.

Olasupo, who said that he attended the 2024 United Nations ECOSOC Youth Forum held in New York last week, added that he spoke on ‘The ethical use of AI and its implications for education in Africa’, asserting that his organisation would continue to advocate for policies regarding the ethical use of AI in Nigeria and Africa as a whole to maximise its benefits and mitigate its risks.

He praised Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, for leading the initiative to develop a comprehensive Artificial Intelligence Strategy for the nation, emphasizing that such an effort was essential in positioning Nigeria to effectively leverage AI for national development.

“In recognition of the significant potential of AI in addressing societal challenges, BBYDI will continue to advocate for policies and ethical frameworks to guide the deployment of AI technologies across Africa. It is imperative that we harness the power of AI for the collective good of our society,” he said.

Earlier in his address, the Head of Programmes at FactCheck Africa, Habeeb Adisa, said the introduction of the innovative AI solution “represents a significant step forward in our approach to combating the spread of false information that continues to erode public trust and sow division among people.

“Our platform is designed to serve a diverse linguistic landscape across the continent. Users can simply submit a new query, and our platform will provide them with an assessment of the article’s authenticity. This will let them know whether it is credible, partially credible, or unreliable.”

He also disclosed that FactCheck Africa had launched a 3-month AI Journalism Fellowship for journalists in West Africa. According to him, the fellowship is a comprehensive training programme that will equip selected journalists with the guidelines, skills, and ethical considerations needed to navigate AI in journalism.

Additionally speaking, the Executive Director of BBYDI, Nura Jimoh, said that the launch of MyAIFactChecker reinforced the commitment of their organisation to leverage tech solutions and digital instruments to address societal challenges.

She recalled that BBYDI last year, in collaboration with Christian Aid, organised the first CivicTech Hackathon in Nigeria to address voter apathy and again increased voters’ participation in the electoral process.

“We also launched evit.ng to track and document violence pre and post-election. We also unveiled conflictreport.org to curb the farmer-herders conflict in the northern half of the nation.

“Additionally, we offered KnowCovid19NG with support from the US Embassy to flatten the curve and provide psychosocial support during the COVID-19 pandemic. Two years before the 2023 general elections, we launched Yvotenaija.org to promote civic education across grassroots communities and on various social media platforms,” Jimoh said.