Recently, OFF Radio Krakow, a broadcasting station in Krakow, Poland, has caught people's attention by replacing human journalists with AI-generated "anchors."
This decision quickly sparked public debate and dissatisfaction, with many beginning to worry whether artificial intelligence will replace more media workers.
Image Source Note: The image is generated by AI, provided by the image licensing service Midjourney
The radio station stated that this is the first experiment in Poland to have virtual characters take on news broadcasting. Their three AI anchors focus on culture, art, and social issues, particularly topics related to the LGBTQ+ community. Marcin Plit, the head of the radio station, said: "We hope to explore the opportunities and challenges of artificial intelligence in media and news through this."
However, this change is not acceptable to everyone. Former radio journalist and film critic Mateusz Dembski strongly opposes it. He issued an open letter on social media expressing his concerns about "replacing human journalists with AI," believing it to be a dangerous precedent that could lead to many experienced media professionals losing their jobs. Dembski's voice resonated widely, and within just a few days, more than 15,000 people signed his petition in support.
Dembski, who had previously documented many stories of Ukrainian refugees during his time at the radio station, was shocked by the layoffs. He mentioned that as a public radio station supported by taxpayers, such a decision is hard to understand. In response, Plit stated that the layoffs were not due to the introduction of AI but because the station's listenership was nearly zero.
Krzysztof Gawroński, the Polish Minister of Digital Affairs, also commented on this incident, stating that legislation is needed to regulate the use of artificial intelligence. He expressed on social media that while supporting the development of AI, the application of this technology should be to serve humans, not replace them.
In the premiere of the new program, the radio station also aired an "interview" conducted by an AI anchor, with the interviewee being the late Nobel Prize-winning author Wisława Szymborska. Michał Rusinek, the administrator of Szymborska's estate, expressed support for this, believing that Szymborska would appreciate this humorous approach.
Key Points:
🤖 Polish radio station uses AI anchors to replace journalists, an attempt to attract young listeners.
📣 Former journalist launches a petition, opposing the replacement of human jobs with AI.
⚖️ Digital Affairs Minister calls for legislation to regulate the application of artificial intelligence in media.
