Presenters controlled by artificial intelligence on South Asian television

Sana, Lisa, Aparajita, and Fatma are female AI-generated news presenters making waves in South Asian television.

They possess remarkable language abilities, tirelessly discussing diverse topics at a minimal cost, potentially reshaping television’s future.

Sana, introduced by Kalli Purie, the vice president of India Today media group, is praised for her brilliance, beauty, tirelessness, multilingual skills, and being under guidance.

Lisa, the first AI news presenter of Odisha TV (OTV) in India, takes pride in delivering news in Odia, the region’s most spoken language.

These AI chatbots are designed based on prevailing beauty stereotypes in Indian society, featuring slim and fair-skinned appearances.

With the ability to deliver news 24/7 in various languages, they offer strong competition in a country with 1.4 billion people and 22 official languages.

Similar AI presenters have emerged in Bangladesh and Pakistan, delivering news in multiple languages.

While the impact on human jobs remains uncertain, India Today clarified that Sana will be guided by real human presenters and editors.

AI presenters may take over some tasks performed by reporters.

Lisa has gained a substantial following on social media, engaging with internet users and simulating her involvement in news coverage.

The trend of AI presenters follows the footsteps of China’s Qiu Hao, the first AI news presenter developed in 2018.

Opinions on AI’s role in news reporting differ, with some believing that it lacks human creativity.

However, AI’s presence continues to grow in the media industry, with Aparajita becoming the new face of Canal 24 in Bangladesh.

Pakistan also introduced Fatma, a new presenter on GNN channel, who reads continuously on diverse topics while wearing a hijab.

Recent developments include the launch of the show AI Talk, featuring the channel’s director interacting with an AI recreation of himself.

Many industry insiders believe that AI-driven innovations will inspire exploration of new technologies and potentially revolutionize the media landscape.