BEIRUT: Lebanon’s Annahar Media Group this week launched Nahar, its first artificial intelligence-powered “news correspondent,” in a step the outlet said opens a new chapter in the relationship between journalists and technology.
Nayla Tueni, Annahar’s editor-in-chief, said innovation is part of the group’s mission and “has always been an integral part of the organization’s identity.” She was careful to frame the tool as a complement rather than a substitute. “With the launch of Nahar, we affirm that AI is not a replacement for journalists, but rather a partner that enhances their capabilities and opens new horizons for creativity and productivity,” she said. “The future of journalism belongs to those who succeed in combining technology and human talent, and we have chosen to be at the forefront of this transformation.”
According to the media group, Nahar can read thousands of sources in seconds, monitor global developments, compare information, translate content, summarise reports and documents, and gather data and stories from across different capitals.
The launch marks a milestone in the group’s wider strategy to modernise its newsrooms by weaving the latest AI technologies into daily operations, while preserving the core principles of journalism: verification, accuracy, and editorial responsibility, with the final decision always resting with a human editor.
Recalling the vision of her late father, Gibran Tueni, she said he believed that bringing technology into journalism was a priority and worked to train journalists and modernise their tools.
Bilal Kassasir, chief executive of Points Information Technology, which developed the project in partnership with Annahar, said Nahar is more than a smart assistant. The innovation “reflects how artificial intelligence can work alongside journalists, giving them the time and tools to focus on what makes a difference: verification, analysis, and storytelling,” he said.
