TL;DR:
- Kuwait News has launched its first AI-powered news anchor named “Fedha.”
- The deputy editor-in-chief of Kuwait News highlights the diverse representation of Kuwaitis and expats in Fedha’s appearance.
- The unveiling of Fedha has sparked mixed reactions on social media, with some praising it as a technological innovation and others raising concerns over its ethics.
- China’s state news agency also launched its own virtual anchor in 2018
- A report by Goldman Sachs suggests AI has the potential to replace 300 million full-time jobs globally and increase productivity, but it also raises concerns over its ability to spread disinformation and erode trust in mainstream media.
- Kuwait’s low ranking in the World Press Freedom Index raises questions about the impact of AI on freedom of expression for reporters in the country.
- Brandi Geurkink believes the adoption of AI in newsrooms blurs the lines of truth and makes it more complicated for people to trust the news they are receiving.
Main AI News:
In a groundbreaking move, Kuwait News, a leading media outlet in Kuwait, has debuted its first virtual news presenter powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI). Dubbed “Fedha,” this AI-driven anchor made its first appearance on the Twitter account of Kuwait News and is touted as a potential solution to offer innovative news content. The deputy editor-in-chief at Kuwait News highlighted the diverse representation of Kuwaitis and expats in Fedha’s appearance, with blonde hair and light-colored eyes.
The unveiling of Fedha has sparked a torrent of reactions on social media, with some hailing it as a technological innovation while others raised concerns over the ethics of using AI in newsrooms. Kuwait is not the first country to venture into this territory, as China’s state news agency launched its own virtual anchor in 2018.
A recent report by Goldman Sachs suggests that AI has the potential to replace 300 million full-time jobs globally and could lead to an increase in productivity. However, the rapid rise of AI has also triggered concerns about its ability to spread disinformation and erode trust in mainstream media.
Kuwait’s ranking of 158 out of 180 countries in the 2022 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders raises questions about the impact of AI on freedom of expression for reporters in the country. According to Brandi Geurkink, a strategy and technology advisor at Reset, the adoption of AI in newsrooms blurs the lines of truth and makes it more complicated for people to trust the news they are receiving.
News presenter “Fedha” appeared on the Kuwait News’ Twitter account as an image of a woman, her light-coloured hair uncovered, wearing a black jacket and white T-shirt. Source: Yasser Al-Zayyat/Kuwait News/AFP
Conlcusion:
The launch of “Fedha” by Kuwait News is a significant milestone in the integration of AI in the media industry. It presents both opportunities and challenges for the market. On the one hand, AI has the potential to offer innovative news content, replace 300 million full-time jobs globally, and increase productivity.
On the other hand, the rapid rise of AI raises concerns about its ability to spread disinformation and erode trust in mainstream media, particularly in countries with low press freedom rankings, such as Kuwait. As such, it is crucial for the market to carefully consider the ethical and societal implications of using AI in newsrooms and balance the benefits with the risks to ensure that the public trust in the news remains intact.
