Live 95.5 Introduces ‘AI Ashley’ – The World’s first radio station AI DJ

KBFF, Live 95.5, made a groundbreaking announcement on Tuesday as they unveiled their latest addition to the radio industry – “AI Ashley.” This revolutionary concept introduces a cloned version of the station’s beloved midday host, Ashley Elzinga, whose voice is nearly indistinguishable from the original. TechCrunch reported that AI Ashley will now be taking over the airwaves, broadcasting to listeners every day from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Powered by GPT-4, the station utilizes Futuri Media’s RadioGPT tool to generate a script for AI Ashley. This script is based on current news collected from various digital outlets and social media platforms. However, Live 95.5’s parent company executives clarify that “traditional Ashley” will not be completely replaced.

Phil Becker, Alpha Media EVP of Content, explained, “It’s a hybrid situation where we’ll have traditional Ashley during some segments, and we’ll have AI Ashley during others.” Alpha Media, the owner/operator of over 200 radio stations across the US, including Portland’s Live 95.5, believes this approach strikes a perfect balance.

While Live 95.5 claims to be the first radio station with an AI DJ, it remains uncertain whether similar attempts have been made in the past. When Insider reached out for comment, Live 95.5 did not immediately respond.

Twitter users expressed mixed opinions regarding AI’s growing presence in the job market. Some felt that the introduction of AI Ashley was a disrespectful move towards radio hosts, while others commended Live 95.5 for ensuring consistent content delivery to its audience.

TechCrunch reports that Live 95.5 has already devised plans for Elzinga and AI Ashley to contribute to the station simultaneously. “In instances where AI Ashley is on air, traditional Ashley might be involved in community engagements, managing social media posts, or working on digital assets,” shared Becker.

The media industry witnessed a similar trend when iHeartMedia, a media giant, laid off staff members in 2020 and began investing in AI technology. Furthermore, the music industry has experienced rapid transformation with the emergence of AI-powered startups developing innovative recording tools and even assisting in songwriting.

The publishing industry is also undergoing significant changes due to AI advancements. Voice actors are concerned about losing audiobook narration opportunities, fearing that their voices may be cloned by AI. Earlier this year, Apple made waves by releasing dozens of audiobooks narrated by AI voices named “Jackson” and “Madison.”

SOURCE: Coverghana.com.gh