Inclusive AI can drive dev: Nahar Khan at Kunming Media Forum

Nahar Khan at Kunming Media Forum

Kunming (China), Sept 8- Highlighting the importance of investing in local-language AI (Artificial intelligence) models, UNB Executive Editor Nahar Khan on Sunday said AI can be a tool for progress, but only if people wield it with integrity, inclusivity and foresight.

"The future of news in the Global South will not be written by algorithms alone. It will be written by us, by our choices, by our courage, and by our commitment to truth," she said.

Nahar, also Executive Director of Cosmos Foundation, made the remarks while speaking at a forum titled "The Rise of the Global South: Economic Development and Cultural Confidence" held at the "Global South Media and Think Tank Forum-2025."

She said the Global South has long been spoken about, too rarely spoken for. "AI offers us a chance to change that - but only if we act collectively."

"Let us ensure that our audiences, our languages, and our stories are not left behind in this transformation," Nahar said.

The five-day forum, which opened Saturday, is co-hosted by Xinhua News Agency, the Communist Party of China Yunnan Provincial Committee and the People's Government of Yunnan Province.

Freddy Alfred Niáñez Contreras, Vice President of the Council of Ministers and Minister of Information of Venezuela (video message); Liu Gang, Director-general of Xinhua Institute; Kubatbek Rakhimov, CEO of the Public Foundation Applikata Center for Strategic Solutions of Kyrgyzstan; Wen Jian, Director of the Communication Strategy Center, Xinhua Institute; Erika Hoffmann Jauge, President of the National Public Media of Uruguay; Shakil Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer, Asian Institute of Eco-Civilization Research and Development of Pakistan; Sun Ming, Vice President of the Academy of Contemporary China and World Studies; Li Yuefen, South Centre G20 Sherpa and Senior Advisor on South-South Cooperation and Development Finance; Merthold Macfalle Monyae, Director of the Centre for Africa-China Studies of University of Johannesburg; Hamed Vafaei, Director of the Asian Studies Research Center at the University of Tehran; Selçuk Colakoglu, Founding Director of the Turkish Center for Asia-Pacific Studies; Timofey V. Expert at the Global Fact-Checking Network of Russia; Hou Sheng, Vice President of the Yunnan Academy of Social Sciences, and Moderator: Liu Hua, Director of Communications and Public Affairs, Xinhua Institute, also spoke at the discussion.

Challenge of Voice and Trust

In a rapidly changing information ecosystem, Nahar said, the true test lies in how their voices and perspectives are acknowledged, accurately represented, and valued on the global stage.

At the heart of this is trust, she said, news is only as strong as the credibility it carries, and in the age of AI, that trust is under both great pressure and great possibility.

More and more audiences across the Global South are consuming news in new ways - through platforms, short videos, and increasingly AI-driven feeds and interfaces, Nahar observed.

In many countries, younger generations are bypassing traditional media altogether.

"This reality is not a threat we can ignore - it is a call to adapt, to innovate, and to reclaim our space in the information ecosystem," Nahar said.

"Used responsibly, AI can empower us. We’re aware that it can transcribe interviews in seconds, summarize lengthy reports, and even deliver life-saving early warnings in times of crisis," she said.

In Bangladesh, where floods and cyclones are part of life, AI-driven forecasting can protect communities - and newsrooms can use that same data to deliver vital, real-time journalism, Nahar said, noting that the possibilities are endless.

However, she said, they must recognise that AI is not neutral and it reflects the biases of its datasets it is trained on, and is heavily skewed towards English and Global North contexts - leaving Global South languages and narratives underrepresented.

"If we do not invest in local-language AI models, our audiences will continue to consume information through systems that do not fully reflect them," Nahar said.

At United News of Bangladesh, she said, they are exploring how AI can support, not replace, our journalists: verifying information faster, streamlining workflows, and ensuring Bangla-language reporting remains accurate and rooted in our language and identity.

"Our goal is not efficiency alone, but the preservation of voice - ensuring that Bangladeshi stories, told in Bangla, are part of the global conversation," Nahar stressed.

Bangladesh as a Case Study of the Rise

Bringing in the perspective of her own country, Bangladesh – a nation of 170 million people, overwhelmingly young, ambitious, and mobile-first, Nahar said today, nearly every household – (98.1%) – owns a mobile phone, and Smartphone adoption has surged to 72.8% in 2025.

With 60 million active social media accounts, she said, one-third of the people now have a digital identity, with more than 77% of internet users engaging with at least one social platform.

On average, each user consumes 8.2 GB of data per month, driven by education, video, and social media.

"Bangladesh is among the digitally connected societies in the Global South," Nahar said.

Beyond being consumers, she said, they are creators. "With over 4,500 software and tech companies and 750,000 ICT professionals, our tech sector is projected to hit $5 billion by the end of 2025."

This digital transformation demonstrates both economic development and cultural confidence, Nahar said.

"It shows how young people, women, rural communities, and entrepreneurs are redefining Bangladesh’s role in the global economy," she mentioned.

"Yet, as our presence grows online and our innovations reach global audiences, a new challenge emerges: ensuring that our culture, language, and values remain strong, and that our voices and perspectives are truly heard, represented, and trusted on the global stage," Nahar added.

Collective Strength

The Global South is not merely a geographical term – it is a political, cultural, and economic construct and reality, said the UNB Executive Editor.

She said it carries with it a shared history of colonial history, development struggles, and resilience, but also rising economic influence and assertive cultural identity.

"Today, it signals a future where our collective strength and unity can help shape a more just and multipolar world," Nahar said.

Demographic Powerhouse

Central to this promise is the Global South as a demographic powerhouse: holding the majority of the world’s population, with more than two-thirds of the world’s youth, she mentioned.

This demographic dividend, Nahar thinks, offers unmatched potential – in ideas, innovation, and creativity - fueling the very economic and cultural dynamism that is reshaping our world. 

Economic Dynamism

She said their economies are among the fastest growing in the world - from Dhaka to Durban, from Nairobi to São Paulo, the Global South is powering global growth.

"Beyond GDP, we are hubs of innovation and entrepreneurship - Driving technological adoption / start-up ecosystems / and digital transformation," Nahar said.

With the expanding infrastructure and deepening regional trade, she said, the Global South is not only contributing to global wealth but also reshaping the rules of the global economy.

Cultural Richness

Nahar said the Global South is a treasure trove of cultural richness.

"Our languages, traditions, music, art, and storytelling shape global culture. Yet, despite this profound influence, much of this cultural wealth remains under-recognized on the world stage," she mentioned.

Resource Abundance

Nahar said they are also rich in natural resources, biodiversity, and renewable energy potential.

She said countries of the Global South hold the keys to the world’s ecological balance – from the Amazon to the Congo Basin, from the Sundarbans in Bangladesh to the forests of Yunnan.

"Harnessing these responsibly is both an opportunity and a responsibility - one that positions the Global South at the forefront of the global transition to a sustainable future," Nahar said.

Some 500 journalists, scholars, government officials and entrepreneurs from 110 countries or international and regional organizations convened in Kunming for the 2025 Global South Media and Think Tank Forum.

Within five days of meeting, participants will brainstorm and contribute their wisdom to translate the forum theme, "empowering global south, navigating global changes," into tangible solutions for practical projects.

Nahar extended her sincere thanks to Xinhua News Agency and the CPC Yunnan Provincial Committee, Yunnan Province – for convening this important forum in Kunming. - UNB