Radio Station Slammed for Pretending AI Host Is a Real Person

Sydney’s CADA radio station, part of the Australian Radio Network (ARN), has come under fire after it was revealed that its show Workdays with Thy, which airs weekdays from 11 AM  to 3 PM, has been hosted by an artificial intelligence persona.

For months, CADA promoted the show as if it were hosted by a woman named Thy. They even shared images of her across their platforms to create the illusion of a real, human presenter. 

However, it turns out that Thy was not a real person at all.

• Thy was an AI-generated avatar
• The station misled listeners by promoting her as human
• No disclosure was made about the use of AI

This revelation has caused a massive uproar, with many questioning the ethics of using AI in such a deceptive manner, especially without informing the audience upfront.

 (Picture: CADA)

How the AI persona “Thy” was created

CADA’s AI host was created using ElevenLabs, a cutting-edge AI audio platform that converts text into realistic, lifelike speech. The voice and likeness of “Thy” were based on a real employee at ARN, who works in the company’s finance department.

The AI avatar was designed to sound like a human radio host and kept listeners engaged with its familiar radio-style tone. However, despite being on air for almost six months, CADA never disclosed that Thy was actually an AI-generated persona.

When the truth came out, it sparked a wave of criticism, leading to concerns about trust, authenticity, and transparency in the media.

The backlash

The backlash has been swift and harsh, with many listeners and industry professionals expressing their anger over the deception. 

Teresa Lim, Vice President of the Australian Association of Voice Actors, who criticised the lack of transparency in CADA’s use of AI.

Experts who argue that audiences deserve to know if they’re listening to a human or an AI during live broadcasts.

Other concerns raised

• The AI persona “Thy” was promoted as an Asian woman, but the station’s line-up lacked real diversity.
• The use of a synthetic host in place of a real, diverse personality has sparked discussions about exploitation of diversity optics for marketing purposes.

Many are now calling for tighter regulation in media and greater transparency regarding the use of AI in broadcasting. As AI technology becomes more advanced, the need for clear guidelines on how and when it can be used becomes even more critical.

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