Thy has been on the radio for six months. Turns out she isn't real
A Sydney radio station has been using an AI-generated host for about six months without disclosing it – and was not legally obliged to.
It was revealed last week that Australian Radio Network's (ARN) Sydney-based CADA station, which broadcasts across western Sydney and is available online and through the iHeartRadio app, had crated and deployed an AI host for its Workdays with Thy slot.
The artificial host known as 'Thy' is on-air at 11am each weekday to present four hours of hip-hop, but at no point during the show, nor anywhere on the ARN website, is the use of AI disclosed.
Instead, the show's webpage simply says 'while you are at work, driving around, doing the commute on public transport or at uni, Thy will be playing you the hottest tracks from around the world'.
ARN Media also owns KIIS FM, the home of The Kyle & Jackie O Show, and the GOLD network, home to high-rating Sydney breakfast show Jonesy & Amanda.
After initial questioning from Stephanie Coombes in The Carpet newsletter, it was revealed that the station used ElevenLabs – a generative AI audio platform that transforms text into speech – to create Thy, whose likeness and voice were cloned from a real employee in the ARN finance team.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority said there were currently no specific restrictions on the use of AI in broadcast content, and no obligation to disclose its use.
An ARN spokesperson said the company is exploring how new technology can enhance the listener experience.
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