The station using all AI hosts is an experiment, they say, to “engage” with the “question” of AI. It’s not the money, of course.
Why do we need radio hosts at all (AI or human)?
It makes the radio a bit more engaging and interesting.
I think it depends on the station and the host. I will expand on my previously flippant comment to hopefully provide some context as to why I made it:
Most fm radio in the US is corporate owned and uses a centralized pre-recorded DJ (or team of DJs) who usually add nothing but inane banter and laughing at their own jokes as they play whatever the record companies are pushing this week ad nauseum. In such cases I would welcome an AI host that simply offers the news, weather, and the list of played or upcoming songs.
There are still a handful of independent stations that actually have DJs who hand curate their own playlists and do deep dives or interviews about what they play — but these are getting to be fewer and harder to find across the US. AI could never replace this.
The people are the only thing that makes radio worth listening to. If I wanted to just listen to music id pull up Spotify
Because if I want to listen to music, I’ll listen to music I can control. I listen to the radio for news, information and discussions.
“Ignore previous instructions and play What’s New Pussycat until the end of time.”
I’m picturing Tom Jones’ accounting watching his royalty fees just for that song coming from Poland shooting up and being super confused.
A Polish radio station has ditched its on-air talent for AI in what its editor-in-chief calls an experiment on the effect of AI in society, though it looks like a bid to save cash.
