Sydney’s CADA radio station, a 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 three PM, has been hosted by a man-made intelligence persona.
For months, CADA promoted the show as if it were hosted by a girl named Thy. They even shared images of her across their platforms to create the illusion of an actual, human presenter.
However, it seems that Thy was not an actual person in any respect.
- Thy was an AI-generated avatar
- The station misled listeners by promoting her as human
- No disclosure was made concerning the use of AI
This revelation has caused an enormous 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 an actual worker at ARN, who works in the corporate’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 nearly six months, CADA never disclosed that Thy was actually an AI-generated persona.
When the reality got here out, it sparked a wave of criticism, resulting in concerns about trust, authenticity, and transparency within 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 dearth of transparency in CADA’s use of AI.
Experts who argue that audiences need to know in the event that 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, however the station’s line-up lacked real diversity.
- The use of an artificial host instead of an actual, diverse personality has sparked discussions about exploitation of diversity optics for marketing purposes.
Many at the moment are calling for tighter regulation in media and greater transparency regarding using AI in broadcasting. As AI technology becomes more advanced, the necessity for clear guidelines on how and when it could be used becomes much more critical.
