9mobile and Microsoft put the event together to enlighten journalists on essential skills and knowledge to thrive in an increasingly technology-driven media industry.

Orimolade Oluwamuyemi, the senior business programme manager, Marketing Communications, Microsoft Africa Development Center, noted the importance of adopting innovation and leveraging technology to enhance journalistic practices. He said, “The Microsoft Garage provides the tools and resources needed for individuals to excel in their fields”, hence, the training program.

This event was an opportunity for journalists to learn new avenues for storytelling and engage with cutting-edge technologies.

Soromfe Uzomah, Principal Program Manager at Microsoft, highlighted the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in enhancing the media industry. He emphasized the ability of AI tools to simplify content creation processes, “AI is changing the way journalists work, enabling them to produce high-quality content more efficiently than ever before.” 

Insights into the practical applications of AI in journalism were explained, including natural language processing, image recognition, and speech-to-text conversion. The importance of data-driven storytelling and the role of AI in uncovering meaningful information from large datasets was also dissected.

Oluwamuyemi emphasized the need for journalists to embrace AI as a tool for innovation rather than a threat to traditional media practices. “AI can enable journalists to uncover new stories and engage with audiences in innovative ways, helping them stay ahead and adapt.”

Artificial intelligence (AI) is here to change the world, and according to Oluwamuyemi, it’s not a matter of if, but how we integrate it into our lives. 

Stressing the importance of using AI responsibly and ethically, Oluwamuyemi acknowledged the power of AI, highlighting its potential for both good and bad. He warned against neglecting AI, comparing it to the shift from typewriters to desktop computers. Those who fail to adapt, he argues, will be left behind.

However, Oluwamuyemi noted the dangers of deepfakes, fabricated videos that can be used to spread misinformation, as a prime example of irresponsible AI.

So, how can we ensure AI is used for good? Spotlight is placed on journalists, who are believed to have a key role to play in advocating for responsible AI.

But journalists aren’t the only ones who need to be responsible. Oluwamuyemi calls for content creators in general to prioritize ethical practices.

AI, particularly generative AI that produces entirely new information, can be a powerful tool for journalists. They must leverage AI’s capabilities while remaining aware of its limitations.

Essentially, Oluwamuyemi emphasized AI as an enabler. He argues that AI can enhance our abilities, not replace them. For journalists, this means using AI to improve storytelling, build brands, and protect reputations.

Ultimately, AI is a powerful tool, but like any tool, it can be misused. So, responsible development and use must be prioritized, ensuring AI benefits everyone.

Wanja Gitonga Discusses Microsoft Copilot for Communications Professionals

Wanja Gitonga, Communications and PR Lead for Africa at Microsoft, presented a session on Microsoft Copilot, an AI tool designed to assist communication professionals. 

What is Copilot? Wanja described Copilot as an AI companion, not an autopilot. It aims to assist communication professionals with various tasks to improve their efficiency and productivity.

Benefits of Copilot:

• Saves time on repetitive tasks across applications like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Generates summaries of documents and emails.
• Creates social media posts based on prompts and content.
• Analyzes data to identify trends and insights.
• Transforms documents into presentations (e.g., turning a Word doc into a PowerPoint).

Using Copilot Effectively:

To get the most out of Microsoft Copilot, it’s important to develop your “prompting” skills.  Think of prompts as instructions you give Copilot to complete a specific task. 

The clearer and more specific your prompts are, the better Copilot will understand your needs and deliver the desired output.

Aside providing clear and specific prompts with context, you also need to leverage different prompts for various functionalities (e.g., summarizing documents, creating presentations) and review prompts before using Copilot to ensure desired output.

Wanja assured that Copilot is not meant to replace human communication professionals. Rather, it empowers them to be more strategic by taking care of mundane tasks.

Communication professionals can leverage Copilot to focus on creative storytelling, relationship building, and strategic communication.

Wanja Gitonga assured communication professionals that Microsoft Copilot isn’t here to take their jobs. Instead, it functions as an empowering assistant, handling the repetitive tasks that often eat away at valuable time. 

This newfound efficiency allows communication professionals to shift their focus towards the more strategic aspects of their work. They can leverage Copilot’s capabilities to free themselves up for creative storytelling, building strong relationships, and creating impactful communication plans.

The future of communication will be heavily influenced by the development and use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools like Microsoft Copilot. However, alongside the undeniable benefits, there’s a need for responsible AI development and use. Here’s why:

• Ethical Considerations: AI-generated content can raise ethical concerns, particularly around plagiarism and the potential for bias.
• Human-Centric Approach: Communication at its core is a human endeavor. AI tools should complement and empower human communication professionals, not replace them.
• Transparency and Trust: Building trust with audiences is important for any communicator. Transparency about the use of AI tools is essential.

C&F Porter Novelli is Nigeria’s premier reputation capital company. The Garage, which harks back to the company’s founding in 1975 in the Gates’ family garage, in Albuquerque, USA, enables Microsoft employees to develop ideas and products for the marketplace.

Speaking at the session, Tony Ajero, Managing Director of C&F Porter Novelli, thanked Microsoft’s Principal Programme Manager, Soromfe Uzomah, for the opportunity to interact with The Garage and share insights on global best practices in business solutions.

Ajero said: “C&F Porter Novelli is a trusted business advisor and leader in strategic communications and we are always on the lookout for business opportunities that will be beneficial to our brand and our clients. This knowledge-sharing session has not only enlightened us on spotting these opportunities but also “riding the waves” of opportunities and doing things out of the ordinary.”

“With over 25 years of experience, bolstered with the 50-year-strong Porter Novelli network, C&F’s new strategic direction aligns with Microsoft Garage’s ethos. It is strategic that this session coincides with the international women’s day, and in line with this year’s theme, “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality.”

Soromfe Uzoma, Microsoft Garage Principal Programme Manager and facilitator, explained that The Garage is a programme that drives Microsoft’s culture of innovation to “deliver programmes and experiences to our employees, customers, and ecosystem that drive collaboration, creativity, and experimentation.”

Uzomah outlined various business models and how organisations can adopt the model best suited to their culture and goals.  He said the Microsoft Garage, though primarily for Microsoft employees, is open to outsiders who have ideas that can revolutionize the way we live and work for the betterment of mankind.

According to Uzomah: “Great business opportunities are like waves and Brands have to be able to identify and ride them beneficially. To identify these waves, a diverse workforce, openness to good ideas, and the acknowledgement that failure is essential to success, are critical” Uzomah concluded.

A highpoint of the session was a grand tour of the Garage floor, whose designs were inspired by Nigerian culture, African prints and African plants.