New research involving a cross-section of Mongolia's independent media landscape finds enthusiasm for AI as a tool to improve efficiency, sustainability and resilience against disinformation, but warns that limited skills, ethical approaches and resources are slowing its adoption.
The study was carried out by Thomson Media under the “Central Asia Media Resilience Incubator”, a programme funded by the Open Society Foundations to strengthen the resilience, sustainability and innovation of independent media across the region.
Every one of the 20 newsrooms questioned in Thomson’s research expressed an interest in AI, particularly for transcription, translation, summarisation, multimedia production and managing heavy workloads.
It also found that adoption is often informal. Many newsrooms lack dedicated AI policies, technical staff, verification tools and the resources to pay for premium services. Global AI systems can also perform inconsistently in Mongolian, creating additional work for journalists and editors.
With national elections approaching in 2027 and 2028, the research highlighted an urgent need for stronger skills in identifying and verifying AI-generated false content.
The media organisations surveyed included a mix of digital first platforms, television, magazines and social media outlets. The majority are small, staffed by fewer than ten people and located in Mongolia’s largest city and capital Ulaanbaatar. Their target audience, mainly young urban professionals.
The report recommendations include, practical newsroom training programmes, greater investment in Mongolian-language tools, a bigger focus on how AI adoption can support financial sustainability and establishing stronger networks and cooperation between independent media organisations.
Find a detailed report on the research here.
Photo: Image created with the help of AI
