An Australian radio station has outraged listeners after using an AI host on its weekday program without warning. CADA, which is part of the Australian Radio Network (ARN), unveiled the AI avatar, “Thy,” on their show Workdays with Thy, which broadcasts in Western Sydney and on the iHeartRadio app.
AI Host “Thy” Used Without Warning
The AI presenter, who presented the show for almost six months from November 2024, was developed on ElevenLabs, a text-to-speech generative AI audio platform. The voice and resemblance of Thy were based on one of ARN’s finance team members. No disclosure was made during any of the broadcasts or on the website of the station about using AI.
“Each weekday from 11am-3pm while you’re at work, cruising around, doing the commute on public transport or at uni, Thy will be playing you the hottest tunes from across the globe,” the station’s website explained. It also vowed to brighten the listener’s mood with a carefully selected playlist of popular songs.
Backlash and Calls for AI Legislation
The absence of transparency regarding the AI host provoked criticism from listeners, who were frustrated by not being told. Teresa Lim, vice president of the Australian Association of Voice Actors, underlined the value of authenticity in broadcasting, stating, “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 be having these discussions now before AI gets so advanced that it’s too hard to control.”
Though conceding the use of AI, an ARN spokesperson said that the station had been experimenting with AI software and had employed the voice of Thy, an ARN employee, for the task. The experiment was framed as part of a wider experimentation with AI in broadcasting, an area that is actively being explored by media firms globally.
Widespread Reach and Growing Concerns
Criticisms aside, the AI-hosted show had gained at least 72,000 listeners in the previous month, The Australian Financial Review reported.
The episode has raised questions regarding transparency and regulation in AI usage in media, calling for transparent guidelines on how AI-generated content is offered to the public.
