Presidential adviser Bayo Onanuga has urged politicians, media organisations and the public to exercise caution in using Artificial Intelligence (AI) ahead of the 2027 elections, warning that its misuse to spread false information could undermine democracy and public trust.
The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, has called for responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), particularly as political activities and campaigns ahead of the 2027 general elections gather momentum.
Onanuga warned that although AI has delivered significant benefits across various sectors, appropriate safeguards must be established to protect democratic institutions and public trust.
He made the call on Thursday in Beijing, China, while presenting a paper titled, “AI and the Future of Global Communication”, at the 7th World Media Summit organised by Xinhua News Agency and the People’s Government of Beijing Municipality.
The presidential adviser observed that social media platforms, including X, Facebook and TikTok, were increasingly flooded with AI-generated videos and images for political messaging, entertainment and other purposes.
He noted that political actors and their supporters had adopted AI for different purposes, including spreading misinformation, creating satirical content and promoting candidates’ achievements.
“We are in the thick of the political season and campaigns ahead of the 2027 general elections, where new political leaders at the national and sub-national levels will be elected. AI, for good and bad, has become a powerful tool for electoral contests for politicians and their supporters.
“Some political actors use AI to spread falsehoods, some use it satirically for entertainment, and some highlight candidates’ achievements,” he said.
Onanuga stressed that the growing influence of AI in political communication required greater responsibility from politicians, media organisations and members of the public in creating and sharing digital content.
He acknowledged AI’s contributions to human development, particularly in medicine, mathematics and other fields, describing the technology as an increasingly indispensable tool.
“Today, AI governs our existence, and we encounter it all the time. In the car, it warns you about your immediate surroundings. It maps your fastest route to your destination. We can go on, citing AI’s Leviathan impact on our lives.
“I believe we can no longer ignore AI’s penetrating impact, most of it beneficial, unless we want to return to the Stone Age,” he added.
The presidential adviser expressed optimism that individuals, scientists and international institutions, including the United Nations, were increasingly concerned about the direction of AI development and were advocating appropriate regulatory measures.
He called for urgent global action to establish safeguards that would prevent the misuse of the technology and protect humanity from its potential dangers.
“The world must act before it becomes too late. Build guardrails quickly to save humanity,” Onanuga concluded.
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