The rise of AI has sparked concerns over the past few decades, and with the ways it’s already affecting the job market, it’s even more terrifying.
These technologies are advancing quite quickly, and there is growing evidence that they are encroaching on human jobs across various industries. As we know, AI’s ability to process vast amounts of data at lightning speed, recognize patterns, and learn from experience grants it unprecedented capabilities when it comes to automation and decision-making.
As a result, routine and repetitive jobs are particularly vulnerable, from manufacturing and customer service to data analysis. For employers, AI can, in many ways, be more cost-effective. For employees, however, it can lead to workforce displacement.
The influence of artificial intelligence in the media industry is expanding faster than ever, and it has now made its way to the news anchors’ desks in India. This past April, in a sweeping turn of events for the country, AI-generated anchors were introduced. One of the most popular of these recent AI anchors is called Lisa. Over the past few months, she has taken on the role of a newscaster for a local Eastern Indian broadcasting station, Odisha TV.
If you didn’t look past the first glance, you’d think Lisa was a human news presenter. However, when you look a little bit closer, it becomes instantly clear that her slow-moving eyes and choppy motions are disturbing.
Even with her monotone personality, her delivery is more than serviceable. Of course, we’ll likely see some improvements in the future, especially with audio and video synchronization, but it’s pretty darn good for now.
Interestingly, Odisha TV’s Twitter account features videos of Lisa presenting the news, but there’s no specific mention that she is AI-generated. The seamless integration of AI anchors into the news landscape may mark the beginning of a new era in media presentation. Technology as we know it will play an increasingly prominent role in how news is delivered.
If you’re sitting in a waiting room and listening to the news in the background, you might be fooled into thinking that Lisa is a real person.
Sitting in a hospital, cafe, or office, she’s a suitable choice for a 24-hour medium like the news. Of course, this isn’t good news for newscasting professionals.
Stranger yet is that Lisa isn’t unique. In fact, she’s just one of the many AI-generated presenters found in newsrooms across the Asian continent, from China to Kuwait to Indonesia. The evolution of media AI is in full swing.
While the impact of Lisa’s introduction still remains unclear, it’s evident that she complements the news network team by handling repetitive and data analytical tasks. The people at Odisha TV can now focus on exploring new angles and engaging in more creative work.
Odisha TV’s managing director, Jagi Mangat Panda, was optimistic about the situation, stating that Lisa has become a valuable partner in streamlining news presentations and enhancing the overall production process.
