North South University with University of Nebraska Omaha
Global South Initiative for Media and AI Literacy (GSIMAL) was officially launched on Friday, marking a major step toward promoting critical media and artificial intelligence (AI) literacy as a citizen right in the Global South.
The initiative aims to address the unique challenges faced by developing regions in an era of embedded AI, misinformation and rapidly evolving digital media ecosystems.
The inauguration program opened with a welcome address by Nasrin Pervin, faculty member at North South University and coordinator of GSIMAL. She highlighted the growing public confusion caused by AI-driven misinformation and emphasized the need to treat media and AI literacy as a public-interest issue rather than a technical luxury.
Delivering the keynote speech, Mahbub Morshed, Managing Director and Chief Editor of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS), noted that many Bangladeshi newsrooms are still in the early stages of adopting AI technologies. He described GSIMAL as a vital platform for students, educators and media professionals to build responsible AI competencies.
Several advisers and guests shared insights on the broader impact of AI on information and society. Lee Guo from the University of Nebraska Omaha, said GSIMAL would help amplify and empower voices from the Global South in global AI and media conversations.
Prof. Sk Tawfique M. Haque of North South University observed that non-traditional and digital media are increasingly shaping how student access and interpret information.
Highlighting election-related risks, Bulbul Siddiqi warned about the dangers of deepfake content and AI-generated misinformation, while Harisur Rahman, co-founder and adviser of GSIMAL, outlined the initiative’s vision of enabling citizens to meaningfully engage in media and AI governance.
Jacob Anderson, founder of Logic Lens, said AI presents both opportunities and threats depending on how it is designed, deployed and regulated.
The event concluded with closing remarks from GSIMAL Founder Sakir Mohammad, who stated that discussions on media and AI literacy are no longer optional. He also emphasized the organization’s commitment to volunteer-driven and low-cost activities to ensure accessibility.
The program was hosted by Tasmim Alam Ruponti, Youth Outreach and Training Coordinator of GSIMAL.
GSIMAL aims to promote inclusive, ethical and accessible AI and media literacy across the Global South, strengthening public resilience against misinformation and algorithmic manipulation.
