A media organization from Kuwait has introduced a new virtual news presenter, created using artificial intelligence (AI), which is set to present online news bulletins.
The presenter, named “Fedha,” appeared on the Kuwait News Twitter account on Saturday. In a short video, she introduced herself as the first AI presenter in Kuwait and asked the audience about their news preferences.
The Kuwait News website is connected with the Kuwait Times, which was founded in 1961 as the first English-language daily in the Gulf region. This new virtual presenter is a trial run to evaluate the potential of AI in providing “new and innovative content,” said Abdullah Boftain, the deputy editor-in-chief for both outlets.
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
Adaptation to Kuwaiti accent
In the future, Fedha may even adopt the Kuwaiti accent and present news bulletins on the Twitter account, which already has 1.2 million followers.
Moreover, Boftain mentioned that the name Fedha refers to silver, a popular and old Kuwaiti name, and they chose the name as they imagined robots to be silver and metallic in color.
The presenter’s blond hair and light-colored eyes represent the country’s diverse population of Kuwaitis and expatriates, Boftain added.
Additionally, the initial 13-second video of Fedha drew many responses from social media, including from journalists.
News Presenter Generated With AI Appears In Kuwait
A Kuwaiti media outlet has unveiled a virtual news presenter generated using artificial intelligence, with plans for it to read online bulletins. pic.twitter.com/AGM0mr2xni
— Punch Newspapers (@MobilePunch) April 11, 2023
While AI is making rapid progress globally and offering many potential benefits, there are also fears about its capacity to spread disinformation and its impact on job opportunities and artistic expression.
In mid-2022, the Public Authority for Civil Information of Kuwait published some figures revealing that there are 2.96 million expats living in the country. This number represents a significant 66 percent of the total population.
Moreover, among these expats, the majority come from India and Egypt, constituting 19 percent and 14 percent of the total population, respectively.
China’s AI news anchor claims to work 365 days
The official news source of the Chinese Community Party (CCP), People Daily, recently praised their AI news anchor Ren Xiaorong for having exceptional professional skills.
Moreover, they claim that she is as talented as a thousand presenters combined.
In a video presentation, Xiaorong confidently states that she can provide news coverage on any topic, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year, without taking a break.
The AI-powered anchor can talk about any subject, according to the creators of Xiaorong.
However, reports suggest that she can only answer questions on specific topics related to China’s Two Sessions political conference, such as cutting-edge technology, tax and fee reductions, employment, and the Belt and Road Initiative.
Xiaorong’s responses align with the CCP’s ideology, and viewers cannot ask her their own questions.
Although the claims made by People Daily about Xiaorong’s abilities seem impressive, it is important to note that her responses are limited to predetermined topics that align with the CCP’s ideology.
See all the latest news from Greece and the world at Greekreporter.com. Contact our newsroom to report an update or send your story, photos and videos. Follow GR on Google News and subscribe here to our daily email!
