Global policy analyst and media consultant, Dr. Victor Okhai, has called on artificial intelligence (AI) companies to compensate Nigerian media organisations for using their content to train AI models, insisting that publishers deserve payment for the value their intellectual property adds to the technology.
Speaking during an interview on ARISE News, Okhai described the Nigerian Press Organisation’s petition to the Presidency over AI companies’ use of local media content as a timely and necessary intervention.
He explained that AI systems rely heavily on information created by journalists, publishers, authors and content creators, noting that the intelligence displayed by AI platforms is built on materials sourced from existing publications.
“AI, for it to be as intelligent as it is, has to be exposed, it has to be trained. And you train it with materials,” he said.
According to Okhai, Nigerian media organisations have contributed significantly to the knowledge base used by AI companies through years of reporting and publishing, adding that such content constitutes valuable intellectual property.
“They would have naturally gone to this intellectual property belonging to Nigerians, Nigerian media, Nigerian platforms, and all of the stuff we put on these platforms as well. And so they train them,” he said.
He stated that while it may no longer be possible to prevent AI companies from using existing content, media organisations should receive fair compensation for its commercial use.
“We know you’re using our stuff, you’re using it to trade. So pay, and pay well for it,” Okhai said.
The policy analyst emphasized that several international media organisations have already reached licensing and compensation agreements with AI firms, receiving royalties or other forms of payment for the use of their content.
“Give us a share of it. It can be compensatory, it can be in forms of royalties, and we deserve this,” he added.
Okhai also maintained that global technology companies operating within Nigeria must comply with Nigerian laws and regulatory requirements, regardless of their international status.
“They may be a global company, but they must also operate with local laws,” he said.
He expressed confidence that Nigeria possesses the technical expertise needed to negotiate favourable agreements with AI companies and protect the interests of local media organisations and content creators.
Okhai’s comments come amid growing global scrutiny over the use of copyrighted material to train artificial intelligence models, with publishers and media organisations in several countries seeking compensation for the commercial use of their content.
Ojo Triumph
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