India’s AI newsreaders are multilingual, cost-saving and ‘never tired’. Can they replace humans?
- Two multilingual chatbots have popped up across two major news networks across India in three months as TV news presenters
- The rapid rise of such technology has some people worried about employment security, a lack of nuance in stories, and the sheer lack of a human element
Following Sana, Odisha TV in eastern India revealed its chatbot named Lisa that wears a sari, has dark-rimmed eyes and reads the headlines in Odia, the local language.
The chatbots delivered the news in a monotonous voice and made no hand gestures.
But they heralded a milestone in broadcasting TV and digital journalism, presenting news, weather forecasts and financial and sports updates all in real time without needing a break.
With two chatbots established as TV presenters within three months, the speed of change driven by AI has taken even experts by surprise. While they had expected the new technology to quickly impact industries such as financial services, information technology and healthcare, few expected it to take root in the media so quickly.
The uptake of AI in the media industry also contrasts sharply with the level of mobile phone penetration in India, where over half the population is without smartphones.
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In a country with 22 official languages, the multilingual Sana and bilingual Lisa could make it much easier for Indians to consume news.
