Sydney Radio Station Secretly Used AI-Generated Host For 6 Months Without Disclosure
- Reference: 0177131897
- News link: https://radio.slashdot.org/story/25/04/25/0355222/sydney-radio-station-secretly-used-ai-generated-host-for-6-months-without-disclosure
- Source link:
> After initial questioning from Stephanie Coombes in [2]The Carpet newsletter , it was revealed that the station used ElevenLabs -- a generative AI audio platform that transforms text into speech -- to create Thy, whose likeness and voice were cloned from a real employee in the ARN finance team. The Australian Communications and Media Authority said there were currently no specific restrictions on the use of AI in broadcast content, and no obligation to disclose its use.
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> An ARN spokesperson said the company was exploring how new technology could enhance the listener experience. "We've been trialling AI audio tools on CADA, using the voice of Thy, an ARN team member. This is a space being explored by broadcasters globally, and the trial has offered valuable insights." However, it has also "reinforced the power of real personalities in driving compelling content," the spokesperson added.
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> The Australian Financial Review reported that Workdays with Thy has been broadcast on CADA since November, and was reported to have reached at least 72,000 people in last month's ratings. Vice president of the Australian Association of Voice Actors, Teresa Lim, said CADA's failure to disclose its use of AI reinforces how necessary legislation around AI labelling has become. "AI can be such a powerful and positive tool in broadcasting if there are correct safeguards in place," she said. "Authenticity and truth are so important for broadcast media. The public deserves to know what the source is of what's being broadcast ... We need to have these discussions now before AI becomes so advanced that it's too difficult to regulate."
[1] http://smh.com.au/culture/tv-and-radio/thy-has-been-on-the-radio-for-six-months-turns-out-she-isn-t-real-20250424-p5ltxi.html
[2] https://www.thecarpet.com.au/p/meet-thy-the-radio-host-i-dont-think
"enhance experience" (Score:4, Insightful)
"enhance experience" is an executive's way of saying "enshitification"
Re: (Score:3)
We're talking radio hosts. That usually means the only skill they need to have is to keep their lips flapping.
In my estimation, radio hosts are the absolutely dumbest people on earth. Or at least they look like it due to statistics. The more words you produce, the higher the chance that something absolutely asinine tumbles out.
I see no value lost in having AI do this instead. Well, perhaps other than having to find something else for such people to do.
Re: (Score:2)
If they went into politics would that be better or worse?
Re:"enhance experience" (Score:4, Interesting)
> ElevenLabs -- a generative AI audio platform that transforms text into speech
And write, apparently. Someone needed to produce the "script" that the AI host used, which may also have had some AI involvement I suppose, but ultimately this seems to be just a glorified text to speech engine trying to cash in on the AI bubble. Or maybe they took it to the next logical step and just feed it a playlist and it generates the necessary "filler" from that and what it can find online from a search of the artist and title, plus some randoms chit chat from a (possibly) curated list of relevant current affairs articles.
Frankly, if people couldn't tell for six months, then whatever they are doing is clearly good enough and the smarter radio DJs are probably already thinking about looking for other work or adding more interactive content like interviews into their shows. Talk Show type presenters probably have a little longer, but it's probably just a matter of time for them too.
Re: "enhance experience" (Score:2)
If someone could tell, what were they going to do about it anyway?
This is a low bar... (Score:2)
There are a lot of radio stations, especially "rock" stations, which can probably work on an iPod Shuffle without anyone noticing. A DJ popping in to announce the call sign, and then throw radio ads can all be automated, and the audience wouldn't really know or care, because other than morning talk show hosts, and -maybe- a show late at night with new content, that can all be a chatbot.
Radio, for the most part, is dead, mainly because the FCC allowed monopolies to sweep in. There may be a few stations wor
Re: (Score:1)
Inserting pre-recorded voice announcer parts into a live automated broadcast to make it seem like it is live is called voice tracking in the industry.
12 years ago at a community station I set-up ZaraRadio Free on a Windows PC running music, promos and callsigns all set to timers to be within the licence requirements running 24/7 as a backup playout system and overnight filler. Nobody could tell the difference between someone being at the station or not.
Why would listeners care? (Score:3)
If they like what they hear, it entertains them, why would they care if the host is AI or not? Is it some sort of us vs. them, like people who would listen to a host of certain race but nor another race, or of a certain nationality, or belonging to some other group? If it does the job, why would one care? If I could get AI to change my tires, why would I care that it wasn't a human who did it?
Re: (Score:2)
Exactly. If no one noticed, who cares?
Was she interactive? (Score:2)
The article does not really say (or I'm missing it), but I can imagine an AI host just spouting random crap between your typical playlist songs or adding minor commentary to news or something (that's what LLMs are for!). But did she answer calls, e.g. random callers just commenting on songs, or competitions "our nth caller gets the prize!"?
Whats the issue (Score:1)
So whats the issue.
I want an ai to mix dance tracks and play them
cut down the ad's and the talking :)
A AI radio DJ (Score:2)
That is a very very low bar, ELIZA + voice synth could probably do this.
why not! (Score:2)
Why would anyone care? If I like what I am listening to I don't give a shit whether it is human, AI, Robot or a gay fish. If they can effectively replace some of the radio jockey's with AI then great as lets face it they do fuck all anyway and it is not exactly a high skill job.
Neat! (Score:2)
Now we just need an AI which can record the broadcasts and chop out the DJ audio part and the ads.
CADA station (Score:3)
CADA (call sign: 2ONE), formerly known as The Edge, is a music radio station based in Australia, operated by the ARN Media. It was relaunched as CADA in 2022, and broadcasts Hip Hop and R'n'B. (According to Wikipedia)
Re: (Score:2)
So it is music and someone who is ignored by all listeners occasionally reading the title of an odd song from the "stream"?
Small wonder nobody noticed.