A virtual DJ on the radio for months without anyone noticing | Best large language models open-source | Llm training dataset free | Llm sft dataset | Turtles AI

An AI-generated radio host has been taking over from a human DJ for months, without listeners knowing. The show “Workdays with Thy,” broadcast on Sydney station CADA, has sparked discussions about transparency around the use of AI in the media.

Key Points:

• A virtual DJ hosted the radio show “Workdays with Thy” for months without disclosing his AI status.
• Thy’s voice was generated using technology from ElevenLabs, modeled after a real-life employee at ARN Media.
• The story has raised questions about transparency, with the Australian Voice Actors Association calling for greater clarity.
• Other experiments with AI in radio are emerging, including in other parts of the world.

An Australian radio station recently made headlines for using an AI-generated host for one of its most popular programs, without disclosing it to the public. The segment “Workdays with Thy,” broadcast on Sydney station CADA, featured a fully virtual DJ taking the helm, treating listeners to a selection of hip hop, R&B and pop music for four hours a day. What was shocking was that, for months, listeners had no idea that the host’s voice was the result of advanced AI software.

Thy, the virtual host, was designed to be as close to a real person as possible, with his voice modeled after a finance employee at ARN Media, the company that owns the station. The voice creation was done using ElevenLabs’ voice generation system, a well-known AI software. Despite the show reaching around 72,000 listeners, neither the station nor the show itself ever mentioned that the host was AI, raising concerns about a lack of transparency.

The use of AI in radio is nothing new, but the "Workdays with Thy" case has highlighted an important issue: audience trust. Teresa Lim, vice-president of the Australian Voice Actors Association, has strongly criticized ARN Media for failing to inform its listeners, stressing the importance of clear and honest communication. The question that arises is whether broadcasters are responsible for ensuring that audiences are not misled, although there have been no direct legal consequences related to the case.

ARN Media CEO Ciaran Davis said the company is trying to better understand what constitutes "real" in the modern media context. However, the company appears to be recognizing the effectiveness of these "virtual announcers," a phenomenon that is spreading globally. Other radio stations have also begun to explore similar solutions, including a station in Portland, Oregon, and Sirius XM. Furthermore, some experiments in Poland have seen the introduction of AI presenters who have replaced human journalists, but they have provoked reactions of disapproval that have led to the interruption of the initiative.

The story of "Workdays with Thy" opens up complex scenarios for the future of the media, in which the line between what is human and what is artificial continues to blur, fueling the debate on ethics, transparency and the evolution of professions in the sector.