Recapping a Polish radio station’s first-of-its-kind AI experiment

A Polish radio station’s attempt to replace humans with AI has short circuited.

Weeks after letting its human journalists go, Radio Krakow relaunched last week with AI-generated “presenters,” who were tasked with delivering news and other segments to listeners. Backlash immediately ensued.

• Over 23,000 people signed a petition calling for the station to end the experiment, protesting "the replacement of employees with artificial intelligence."
• Listeners say they found the AI delivery robotic and impersonal, lacking the nuance and emotional connection typically associated with human news anchors.

In response: The station's editor, Marcin Pulit, stated the move was intended to spark a debate about AI, which he felt it had successfully accomplished. He noted the experiment, initially planned for three months, was deemed pointless after just a week due to the volume of feedback and opinions collected. It's now been canceled.

🤖 Zoom out: In spite of the failed experiment by Radio Krakow, AI presenters are here to stay. Brands are increasingly turning to AI-generated social media influencers and models to promote their products, while Google recently created software that can turn uploaded content into a podcast hosted by human-looking AI avatars.