Meet Fedha & Ren, AI news anchors that are redefining the future of broadcasting

Although this may seem like a scene from a sci-fi movie, it is not far from reality. The first AI news anchors were unveiled by China in 2018, followed by India in 2023. Both countries claim that their AI anchors can provide objective and unbiased news coverage, as well as cater to the diverse linguistic and cultural needs of their audiences.

In this article, we take a look at the various prevailing AI news anchors and what they spell for the future of journalism.

What are AI news anchors?

AI news anchors are computer-generated models that use natural language processing and deep learning to synthesise realistic speech and facial expressions. They can read any text input and deliver it in a natural and engaging way, with appropriate gestures, eye contact, and emotions. They can also adapt to different languages, accents, and styles.

Some of the advantages of AI news anchors are obvious: they don’t need salaries, vacations, or sick leaves. They can work 24/7 and cover any topic without bias (that is, if they’re programmed that way) or fatigue. They can also be customised to suit different audiences and preferences.

AI news anchors: Ren Xiaorong (China)

China’s Ren Xiaorong was unveiled last month. An AI-powered “woman,” the AI news anchor can deliver news 24 hours a day and 365 days a year. The state-owned news outlet People Daily showed off the AI-created presenter in a video posted on the country’s primary social media platform Weibo. People Daily claimed that Xiaorong has the professional skills of a “thousand presenters.”

Ren Xiaorong only answers to preset questions currently (Image: People Daily/Weibo)

“Whether at news sites or back in the studio, you will always see me. Every conversation, every feedback you provide, will only make me smarter,” she says in Chinese in the video, standing in front of China’s glistening skyline. This might come off as overly zealous or even creepy to some, so we’re hoping that the original speech in Chinese was slightly less unnerving.

Xiarong’s creators claim that she can speak about any topic, but some reports say that so far she’s wired to only answer one of four preset questions about China’s ‘Two Sessions’ political conference. Despite her limited capabilities, the overall response under the post was overwhelmingly positive.

Fedha (Kuwait)

Earlier this week, a Kuwaiti media outlet unveiled Fedha, a virtual news presenter generated using AI. The light-haired presenter appeared on the Twitter account of Kuwait News in a white t-shirt with a black coat atop.

“I’m Fedha, the first presenter in Kuwait who works with artificial intelligence at Kuwait News. What kind of news do you prefer? Let’s hear your opinions,” she said in the video.

أول مذيعة في #الكويت تعمل بالذكاء الاصطناعي

• #فضة.. مذيعة #كويت_نيوز الافتراضية

• ما هي نوعية الأخبار التي تفضلونها بتقديم #فضة زميلتنا الجديدة؟ .. شاركونا آراءكم pic.twitter.com/VlVjasSdpb

— كويت نيوز (@KuwaitNews) April 8, 2023

The deputy chief editor of the publication, Abdullah Boftain, said they are experimenting with the AI’s ability to create “new and innovative content,” according to an Al Jazeera report. He added that Fedha might use the Kuwaiti accent and deliver news updates on the site’s Twitter account in the future. Boftain also explained that the name Fedha, which means silver in Kuwaiti, was chosen because he always imagined robots to be silver and metallic.

Xinhua’s AI news anchor (China)

Claimed to be the first AI news anchor in the world, the presenter made his debut in 2018 at the fifth World Internet Conference in East China’s Zhejiang Province. The anchor, whose name wasn’t stated, looked convincingly like a real person, although his mouth movements and monotonous voice give him away.

Xinhua's first English #AI anchor makes debut at the World Internet Conference that opens in Wuzhen, China Wednesday pic.twitter.com/HOkWnnfHdW

— China Xinhua News (@XHNews) November 7, 2018

The AI news anchor was developed jointly by Xinhua News Agency, the official state news agency of the Chinese government, and the Chinese search engine company Sogou.com. He can self-learn from live broadcasting videos, according to Xinhua, and is a member of the channel’s reporting team.

What do AI news anchors mean for journalism?

There are some obvious advantages that AI anchors bring over human anchors. Xinhua says that AI presenters can work 24 hours a day on its website and social media handles, “reducing news production costs”. The agency also pointed out that they may be useful for broadcasting breaking news in a timely manner.

However, in their current state, these AI news anchors leave a lot to be desired, both in terms of speech as well as facial expressions. While extremely convincing Deepfakes emerge on the internet every day to either scam people or spread misinformation, these particular instances of AI anchors may not easily fool people.

In a country like India where TV news is often dramatised by overly enthusiastic news anchors, the relatively monotonous tone and benumbed expressions may not work in the way of engagement among viewers. But this may only be a temporary hurdle given the speed at which AI is developing, fueled by billions of dollars worth of investments by big tech. The near future may hold AI anchors that are indistinguishable from their human counterparts.

Challenges and risks

When we do reach that stage, AI news anchors can pose challenges and risks for the journalism profession and the public. The Ren Xiaorong AI anchor mentioned above was already delivering preset answers that were in line with the rhetoric favoured by the Communist Party of China, so the possibility of authoritarian governments employing AI news anchors to spread propaganda cannot be ruled out. Imagine huge screens in every nook and cranny featuring attractive news anchors that tirelessly function as government mouthpieces day and night.

Moreover, as AI news anchors become more convincing, they could affect the trust and credibility of news sources as viewers may not be able to distinguish between real and artificial presenters.

Fair to say, AI news anchors are a double-edged sword for the future of journalism. They offer new possibilities and opportunities for media innovation and communication, but they also require careful regulation and oversight to ensure ethical and responsible use.