After AI’s controversial participation in research and publication, it has now crossed over radio broadcasting. Recently, a radio station has used an AI radio jock, which is reported to be a deep-fake voice of Michigan-based host Ashley Elzinga. This artificially generated host known as “AI Ashley” was first aired on Live 95.5 in Portland, Oregon last June. To know more about it, let’s delve into the history of the first-ever AI host on radio broadcasting:
On June 17th, Live 95.5 made history by creating an artificially generated voice of their midday host Ashley Elzinga, but of course, with her consent. It was developed by a pool of programmers and engineers with the goal of creating a technology-based DJ with the similar wit and charm of a human host. An AI-powered tool “RadioGPT” that utilizes GPT-4 to get a script based on current news and reads it with an artificial voice was used to bring the project to life.
We made history as the world's first radio station with an AI DJ! Our midday host Ashley has become AI Ashley! We can’t wait for you to meet Ashley, the world's first artificially intelligent DJ. As to the intelligence of our other DJ’s…we’ll save that for another post 😉 pic.twitter.com/CtlMhYU0IO
— Live 95.5 (@live955) June 13, 2023
AI Ashley can connect with listeners by responding to their comments and questions live with speed and accuracy. It has been programmed to share facts on a wide array of topics including current event discussions and one-on-one interviews.
As AI continues to dominate the world, people are expecting more accurate AI hosts to emerge in the future — with the power to reshape the landscape of radio broadcasting and mass media. Due to rising costs, iHeartMedia invested in AI as part of their cost-cutting measures.
As there has been a huge concern that AI might replace human DJs, the radio station confirmed that AI Ashley will not replace the real Elzinga. Alpha Media, Live 95.5’s parent company, made sure that the real Ashley would get the same salary:
“It’s a hybrid situation where we’ll have traditional Ashley on during some segments, and we’ll have AI Ashley on during other segments,” Phil Becker, Alpha Media EVP Phil Becker said in an interview with a tech channel.
“In an instance where AI Ashley would be broadcasting, the traditional Ashley might be doing something in the community, managing social posts or working on digital assets or the other elements that come with the job,” he added.
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