The 30th of June this year marks the 26th anniversary of the DAILY TRIBUNE — a milestone that celebrates more than longevity. It celebrates an enduring commitment to a principle that has become even more valuable in our digital age: The relentless pursuit of truth. Since its founding in 2000, the DAILY TRIBUNE has remained steadfast in its mission of delivering news and opinion without fear or favor while navigating the rapidly changing landscape of media.

Its anniversary also comes at a pivotal moment in history. We are no longer merely living in the Information Age. We are entering the Age of Artificial Intelligence, where machines can draft documents ranging from the simplest to the most complex, scour jurisprudence, compose music, diagnose illnesses and even generate videos so realistic that they are virtually indistinguishable from authentic recordings. AI has become an indispensable tool, but it has also become a powerful test of our individual and collective commitment to truth.

For centuries, information was constrained by time and a lack of resources. Today, it is threatened by abundance. The challenge is no longer finding information; it is determining which information is reliable.

Yet every powerful technology carries corresponding risks.

AI can fabricate photographs of events that never occurred. It can imitate voices with astonishing accuracy. It can produce convincing legal arguments yet support them with fictitious cases and generate false narratives that spread across social media before they can be disproved. The same technology that enlightens can also deceive and cause harm.

Recognizing both the promise and the peril of artificial intelligence, Pope Leo XIV, in his recent encyclical Magnificus Humanitas, reminds us that technological progress must always be guided by moral responsibility and respect for human dignity. Innovation, the Holy Father teaches, should never eclipse truth and the common good. His message is a timely reminder that while machines may process information with extraordinary speed, only the human conscience can ensure that technology serves humanity rather than the other way around.

This is where responsible journalism assumes even greater importance.

The role of newspapers is no longer confined to reporting events. Increasingly, they serve as guardians of credibility. In an environment where algorithms reward speed, responsible media institutions should continue to prize verification, truth, fairness and accountability. These values cannot be outsourced or delegated to machines.

The law, too, faces a profound challenge. Existing doctrines on libel, privacy, intellectual property, evidence and consumer protection were crafted for a world where human beings created and disseminated information. Legislatures and courts must now confront questions that were once unthinkable. Who bears responsibility when AI causes harm? Who owns AI-generated works? Can a fabricated video constitute admissible evidence? Should AI-generated political content be labeled? How do we preserve free speech while combating digital deception?

As the DAILY TRIBUNE celebrates 26 years of informing the Filipino public, its mission has become even more consequential. In an era when artificial intelligence can produce endless streams of content, trustworthy journalism becomes not less important, but indispensable.

On its 26th anniversary, the DAILY TRIBUNE reminds us that journalism, at its finest, is a public trust. Pope Leo XIV reminds us that technology must always serve the human person. The law reminds us that justice begins with truth. These three callings converge on a single enduring principle: Progress has value only when anchored in truth.

Congratulations to Willie, Chingbee and the dynamic editors and writers of the DAILY TRIBUNE. May the DAILY TRIBUNE continue to be a beacon of credible journalism, proving that while artificial intelligence may transform how we create and consume information, it can never replace the moral courage required to seek, defend and publish the truth.

For more of Dean Nilo Divina’s legal tidbits, please visit www.divinalaw.com. For comments and questions, please send an email to cad@divinalaw.com.