The Middle East Council on Global Affairs, in collaboration with the Qatar Press Centre (QPC), organised an online panel discussion on “Media Coverage of the Iran War in the Age of Artificial Intelligence”, bringing together academics and media professionals to examine rapid transformations in the media landscape amid the intersection of geopolitical conflict and technological advancement.
The session highlighted how wars are increasingly shifting from traditional battlefields to the digital space, where artificial intelligence (AI) has become a central tool in shaping narratives and influencing public opinion.
This includes the use of deepfakes, propaganda bots and large-scale production of misleading content, alongside efforts to strengthen public awareness in confronting these challenges.
The discussion was moderated by Fawzi al-Ghweidi, visiting fellow at the Middle East Council on Global Affairs.
Participants included Doha Institute for Graduate Studies associate professor Dr Walid al-Saqaf, Qatari researcher and academic Dr Khalid Faraj al-Khanji, Gulf Times editor-in-chief Faisal al-Mudahka, and Dr Taleb al-Atbah, faculty member in Qatar University’s Department of Mass Communication.
They explored the use of AI in media, newsroom challenges and its impact on reshaping narratives during crises.
Media transformations
Dr al-Atbah said that generative AI has become one of the most prominent features of change in the media landscape.
He stressed that it is not an all-dominant force, as often portrayed, but a rapidly evolving tool that has made significant progress in a short time and works in an integrated way to produce wide-reaching content.
Dr al-Atbah pointed to examples of AI-generated content, including videos related to Iran’s display of weapons and fabricated clips of political figures, which may pass unnoticed by some audiences.
Such content, he warned, can shape public opinion – especially during times of war, when anxiety is high and demand for information increases, making audiences more vulnerable to misinformation.
Dr al-Atbah also highlighted the risks of visual content in spreading false information, due to its speed and lasting impact compared to written material.
He noted that younger generations increasingly consume visual media, while algorithms track audience preferences and behaviour, amplifying exposure.
He stressed the need to integrate AI positively into visual media so audiences can better distinguish between real and fake news, adding: “We need educational crisis media that helps people understand what is real and what is not.”
Verification challenges
Dr al-Saqaf warned of the unprecedented pace of AI development, noting that it requires media organisations to rethink their policies and working methods.
He said many AI tools are still developed within Western contexts and have not fully adapted to Arab cultural environments, highlighting the need for locally grounded technological and media models.
Dr al-Saqaf also pointed to the widening gap between the sophistication of deepfake technologies and verification tools, stressing the need for advanced fact-checking strategies and continuous development of journalists’ digital skills to counter misinformation.
He emphasised that AI can also be used as a tool for verification, referring to the concept of “triangulation of evidence”, which involves not relying on a single source, analysing content in depth, tracing its origin and publication history, and identifying whether it has been reused or generated by AI through what he described as “visual fingerprints”.
Dr al-Saqaf noted that journalists cannot manage this alone and must be trained to use these tools effectively, warning against reliance on a single source.
Technology in media
Al-Mudahka stressed the need for media institutions to invest in technology and employ specialised data analysts, noting that the future of journalism depends on integrating editorial and technical work.
He highlighted the multiplicity of narratives in today’s media landscape, compared to the limited reach of Gulf narratives, which often lag behind more technologically advanced content.
Al-Mudahka also pointed to the growing role of “electronic armies” in targeting Gulf narratives, while Gulf media still partially relies on traditional methods, limiting its competitiveness.
He said that propaganda has become a defining feature of modern warfare, with each side seeking to impose its own narrative.
Al-Mudahka revealed that Gulf Times has launched an AI-powered newsletter as part of its push for innovation, adding that Arab countries still need greater readiness to engage in AI-driven information wars.
He also praised Qatar’s experience in countering intense online campaigns within a short period, reflecting the scale of challenges in protecting national media narratives.
Balancing media responsibility
Dr al-Khanji said traditional media, including radio and television, faces growing challenges in this evolving environment.
He noted that differences across age groups require more diverse content and distribution channels, adding that media today is a comprehensive system that includes both content and its delivery.
Dr al-Khanji stressed the importance of balancing news coverage with national security considerations and strengthening the media’s sense of responsibility.
He also highlighted the need to protect society from misinformation through cooperation between media and educational institutions, promoting critical thinking skills and building trust with audiences.
Strengthening digital sovereignty
In conclusion, al-Mudahka emphasised the need to strengthen digital sovereignty in Arab countries by developing nationally supported AI platforms to ensure technological independence.
He called for supportive legislation, greater private sector involvement in developing solutions tailored to the Arab context, and investment in national talent.
He also stressed the importance of integrating digital resilience and media literacy into educational curricula to help future generations navigate digital content responsibly and counter misinformation.
The panel forms part of a co-operation agreement signed earlier this year between the QPC and the Middle East Council on Global Affairs, aimed at strengthening collaboration between media and research institutions in Qatar and the wider Arab region, and promoting knowledge exchange on issues of shared interest.