Kuwait has launched an AI-generated news broadcaster. After China and India introduced AI-powered news broadcasters, the Muslim world is following in their footsteps by incorporating AI into media. A virtual newsreader will read online news bulletins, according to a Kuwaiti media outlet.
The “Fedha” AI robot was introduced on the Kuwait News website’s Twitter account. Fedha is a woman with uncovered hair who is dressed in a black jacket and a white T-shirt.
“I’m Fedha, the first presenter in Kuwait who works with artificial intelligence at Kuwait News. What kind of news do you prefer? Let’s hear your opinions,” she speaks in Arabic.
أول مذيعة في #الكويت تعمل بالذكاء الاصطناعي
• #فضة.. مذيعة #كويت_نيوز الافتراضية
• ما هي نوعية الأخبار التي تفضلونها بتقديم #فضة زميلتنا الجديدة؟ .. شاركونا آراءكم pic.twitter.com/VlVjasSdpb
— كويت نيوز (@KuwaitNews) April 8, 2023
Abdullah Boftain, deputy editor-in-chief for both outlets, said it was a test of AI’s potential to offer “new and innovative content”.
In near future, Fedha would be able to adopt the Kuwaiti accent and present news bulletins, he added.
“Fedha is a popular, old Kuwaiti name that refers to silver. We always imagine robots to be silver and metallic in color, so we combined the two,” Boftain suggested. “Fedha represents everyone.”
Earlier, the Indian media group “India Today” advanced and introduced its audience to an AI female anchor named ‘Sana.’
The advancement in mainstream media comes after AI-powered bots demonstrated greater efficiency and allowed for less manpower to produce satisfactory results.
During the India Today Conclave 2023, Vice Chairperson Kalli Purie of the India Today Group launched the bot AI. Sana, according to Purie, is a “bright, gorgeous, ageless, tireless” robot that can “speak in multiple languages” and is “completely” under his control.
Aaj Tak AI’s Sana will be rolled out next week bringing daily news updates several times a day in multiple languages. In a new show, Sana will also discuss and explain a specific topic daily, and will also engage with the audience who can ask questions.
Although this may seem like a setback for many human anchors who have spent years in the media, Purie assured that Sana will not “take away the brilliance of real-life anchors” as they “will be mentoring her.”
