The Indian media group announced this month its first full-time artificial intelligence (AI) news anchor. This is a bot named Sana that presents news updates several times a day.
The AI-powered reporter will appear on India Today Group’s Aaj Tak news channel.
At a launch event attended by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the group’s vice chairman Kali Puriye said, “She is bright, gorgeous, ageless and tireless.
bot debuts
Sana has a human-like appearance and is given data that can be read using text-to-speech technology.
Since the introduction of ChatGPT, a human-like chatbot last November, AI-generated news presenters have gradually gained traction.
In 2018, China’s Xinhua News Agency used computer graphics to create the world’s first AI-powered male newscaster. Just this year, she debuted her first AI female newscaster.
Last month, Russia’s Svoye TV introduced Snezhana Tumanova as the first virtual weather presenter.
Journalism jobs in danger?
NewsGPT, the world’s first news channel whose content is entirely generated by artificial intelligence, launched in March, ostensibly threatening the jobs of media professionals. NewsGPT CEO Alan Levy says NewsGPT is a game changer in the world of news.
But as journalism robots proliferate, there are growing concerns about their impact.
Media commentator Shailaja Bajpai told DW: “But it’s too early to say how serious it will be and how much difference it will make.”
“Bots can do breaking news, but they may not be able to react and discuss like individual anchors today,” Bajpai added.
Bajpai, who has written about the development of television in India for 30 years, argued that AI is a big challenge.
She suggested that expository journalism, on-the-ground reporting, and investigative journalism could be the answer, as AI bots may not be able to replicate human observations and experiences.
“We must be prepared to either persevere in this challenge, or perish in the temptation, to change and adapt,” she said.
Benefit or Ruin?
Media columnist and ombudsperson Pamela Philipose said the threat posed by AI and its applications is real, and that in the near future newsroom “Alexas” will perform these tasks more efficiently than journalists get paid. I hinted that it would be able to run.
“A more multi-layered problem is that AI can intentionally create disinformation,” Philipose told DW.
“If the potential of AI to repurpose raw data is fully realized, fake news could spread via text and images on WhatsApp, leading to election plagiarism and stigmatization of targeted communities. .”
Many media professionals are increasingly relying on algorithms and feel that automation threatens to undermine the credibility and credibility of journalism.
Additionally, the rise of AI has raised concerns about job security and the potential for perpetuating existing biases in the data AI uses to generate news.
“Of course, there will be concerns if AI-generated presenters are seen as the future,” newscaster Rajdeep Sardesai told DW.
“But I recall that when computers first entered the newsroom, there was also concern that they would cut jobs.” I think it should be seen as a tool.
“We need to use AI and apps like ChatGPT as an adjunct to newsroom functionality, not as a replacement for human skills. Is there one?” asked Sardesai.
form an argument
In recent years, as the cost of on-site reporting has risen, prime-hour TV news has become dominated by studio debates, with some media houses becoming megaphones for those in power.
Corporate and political influence overwhelms media organizations, and many commentators report a disturbing trend of media organizations not telling the truth to power but letting those in power decide what the truth should be. I believe that is appearing.
“AI anchors and applications can cause the collapse of democracy in ways unimaginable at this time, and I think that is our biggest concern,” said Philipose.
Indian journalist and television personality Nidhi Razdan cautioned.
She pointed out that the introduction of AI news anchors may need to be regulated to avoid journalism going down a slippery slope.
“That said, perhaps AI anchors will do a better job of being objective than their real-life counterparts. Most of them no longer speak truth to power.
“The way forward is to be aware of what AI brings and be cautious,” she added.
Editing: Keith Walker
