RIYADH: Academic media experts stressed the importance of keeping pace with developments in artificial intelligence, particularly in educational curricula, and called for its appropriate integration into media colleges and departments.
This came during their participation in the 10th international conference on AI in media, organized by the Saudi Association for Media and Communication, which concluded on Wednesday in Riyadh.
The second day featured specialized sessions discussing the rapid transformations in the media landscape, coinciding with the Kingdom's designation of 2026 as the Year of Artificial Intelligence.
The program included six sessions with academics and media specialists, who noted that AI technologies are reshaping media production through automation, big data analysis, and content personalization.
They emphasized that these changes require media organizations to adopt new business models and strengthen capabilities in digital verification, data management, and credibility preservation.
Speakers affirmed that the future of Saudi media depends on investment in advanced media education and the development of national talent, in line with Vision 2030 and efforts to strengthen the Kingdom’s global media presence.
Hassan Mansour, professor of digital media at King Saud University, stressed the need to update media curricula to keep pace with AI technologies and raise awareness of AI.
He added that AI is no longer limited to computer science specialists but has permeated all aspects of life.
“As media academics, we closely follow developments in the AI sector. It is essential to study ways to integrate AI skills into educational curricula and teaching methods for media faculty.”
Mansour also noted a gap in achieving AI literacy goals, adding that current media studies curricula “remain either unfulfilled or limited” in addressing AI.
Turki Al-Ayyar, head of the conference’s media committee, said current media curricula are not keeping pace with AI and called for a comprehensive overhaul of media education outcomes rather than gradual updates.
Al-Ayyar, a faculty member at the university’s media department, added that the main concern is not AI itself but academic stagnation, noting that those who adapt remain influential, while those who do not fall behind.
He further pointed out that, if used properly, AI can reduce data collection time, enhance analysis, and support advanced research models, stressing that the effectiveness depends on the user rather than the tool.
In her study, Nahar Hariri, a faculty member at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, emphasized the importance of implementing AI-enhanced academic programs in Saudi universities.
She explained that this trend is not merely a technological update but a structural transformation in the philosophy and institutional framework of media education, requiring a reassessment of curricula, teaching methods, and learning outcomes to keep pace with rapid digital changes.
Hariri noted that AI has become central to reshaping media skills and academic programs, as well as redefining the role of educational institutions.
She added that the future of media studies depends on universities transitioning from traditional approaches to flexible, competency-based models aligned with the digital job market, considering AI an essential competency in shaping educational outcomes.
