Sydney Radio Station Secretly Used AI-Generated Host For 6 Months Without Disclosure

The Sydney-based CADA station secretly used an AI-generated host named 'Thy' for its weekday shows over six months without disclosure. The Sydney Morning Herald reports: After initial questioning from Stephanie Coombes in The Carpet newsletter, it was revealed that the station used ElevenLabs -- a generative AI audio platform that transforms text into speech -- to create Thy, whose likeness and voice were cloned from a real employee in the ARN finance team. The Australian Communications and Media Authority said there were currently no specific restrictions on the use of AI in broadcast content, and no obligation to disclose its use.

An ARN spokesperson said the company was exploring how new technology could enhance the listener experience. 'We've been trialling AI audio tools on CADA, using the voice of Thy, an ARN team member. This is a space being explored by broadcasters globally, and the trial has offered valuable insights.' However, it has also 'reinforced the power of real personalities in driving compelling content,' the spokesperson added.

The Australian Financial Review reported that Workdays with Thy has been broadcast on CADA since November, and was reported to have reached at least 72,000 people in last month's ratings. Vice president of the Australian Association of Voice Actors, Teresa Lim, said CADA's failure to disclose its use of AI reinforces how necessary legislation around AI labelling has become. 'AI can be such a powerful and positive tool in broadcasting if there are correct safeguards in place,' she said. 'Authenticity and truth are so important for broadcast media. The public deserves to know what the source is of what's being broadcast... We need to have these discussions now before AI becomes so advanced that it's too difficult to regulate.'

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