The completely AI radio format I posted about 3 weeks ago will be used by 2 major media companies

[highplainsdem]

Earlier thread in GD is at https://www.democraticunderground.com/100217686217 and the Lounge thread where I asked for reactions is at https://www.democraticunderground.com/10181784012 .

At the time I posted those, there was no news about radio stations that would use AI radio.

Axios had a story about a week later, which I missed then but found tonight thanks to an article from The Verge: https://www.theverge.com/2023/3/21/23650783/chatgpt-radio-npr-layoff-podcast-spotify-audiobook

From Axios, on March 7:

https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2023/03/07/ai-radio

What they're saying: Futuri CEO Daniel Anstandig tells Axios his company created RadioGPT to "save radio, not compete with it."

"Our research shows that seven out of 10 air shifts around the world are already unmanned with generic production or voice tracking," Anstandig says. "What we're looking to do is augment a station's ability to fill its programming with more live and local content."

-snip-

The technology will debut at actual radio stations in mid-April, including Portland-based Alpha Media, which owns and operates more than 200 stations in the U.S., and Rogers Sports & Media, which owns 55 across Canada.

Anstandig says he expects RadioGPT to be implemented by "several hundred" radio stations by year-end.

[WhiteTara]

1. wow

[SheltieLover]

2. Fuck.

[live love laugh]

5. ✔️

[highplainsdem]

16. My thoughts about this exactly, SheltieLover.

[AllaN01Bear]

3. how about hiring more people

[madville]

4. It's just gonna get worse

We’re gonna see many white collar jobs eliminated in the coming decade as AI takes over many corporate tasks such as accounting, legal, programming, IT help desk, HR, etc.

[Samrob]

17. And we won't be able to blame it on Mexico and NAFTA!. nt

[Lancero]

27. Whats the advice that white collar workers gave to every BC worker wondering about their jobs?

White collar workers didn't give a damn about the jobs lost to automation they favored, now they're freaking out now that their own jobs are up on the cutting block.

[LudwigPastorius]

6. Dr. Johnny Fever is spinning in his grave at 45 rpms.

[ZonkerHarris]

13. Booger!

[highplainsdem]

15. We need Johnny Fever:

[Meowmee]

7. When they say they will use ai

What do they mean exactly…does that mean AI is going to do the job of the a person talking on a show etc.?

I have noticed for several years especially late at night, but now all of the time, that the television commercials often run for about five seconds…you have no clue what is being advertised, and then they switch to three other commercials very quickly. This was long before ai but it makes me realize that there is now no one apparently actually watching what is going on.

[highplainsdem]

8. Yes. Completely. See the OP again for the first paragraph's links

to the threads I posted in late February, with lots more details on their programs' content, and a link to their demo, which I'll add here, too:

https://listen.streamon.fm/radiogpt

[Meowmee]

9. Thanks 😀

But who wants to listen to ai pretending to be a person?

[highplainsdem]

10. I don't. But the people in charge of those media companies and their 250 stations

think we do.

[Meowmee]

12. Lol, that is an awful voice. Why would anyone pay for that...

I can listen to anything I want to practically at youtube without some awful fake radio host. Rare recordings, concerts etc. for free. I think it will flop.

The only time I listen to radio is in my car usually, I often change the stations as soon as ads come on or people talk too much. I can barely stand to listen to real people anymore unless it’s a particular discussion or some thing that I’m interested in.

[brooklynite]

18. Who wants to listen to a disk jockey?

People tune in for the music.

[honest.abe]

19. I know. I can't stand the typical DJ these days.

Such stupid comments and jokes. I usually turn it down until the music starts.

[Meowmee]

28. If I have to listen to anyone

I would rather it were a person, with a brain etc., not a machine pretending to be one with an awful mechanic voice. But I mostly switch to some other music. If it is a broadcast I am interested in I listen to it, with a host and often guests discussing topics or news.

In addition there are some disk jockeys with shows that are interesting who go beyond the usual, who are funny, and who have a lot of knowledge to share and who play music I like etc.

[brooklynite]

29. "With a mechanical voice"

But that’s the point; the AI bots have a voice you can’t differentiate from human.

https://listen.streamon.fm/radiogpt

[Meowmee]

30. I was able to tell it was mechanical

Immediately as could anyone.

[Initech]

11. Evil asshole!

[Buns_of_Fire]

14. Ananova looks forward to her triumphant return.

Ananova was a web-oriented news service that originally featured a computer-simulated newscaster named Ananova programmed to read newscasts to users 24 hours a day. Ananova became a subsidiary of mobile telecommunication operator Orange S.A., after it was purchased from the Press Association (PA) in a £95m deal in 2000, after which it was merged into the Orange main news site. The character Ananova was retired in 2004, but the website continued to provide written news articles until 2009.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ananova

[honest.abe]

20. Is this supposed to be a bad thing??

Sounds like just another improvement in automation.

[highplainsdem]

21. It's bad if it replaces real, human DJs and news staff, as it's likely

to do. The programs that are already automated/generic are also bad and have harmed the music industry and artists.

[honest.abe]

22. So any improvement in automation that replaces a person is bad??

You are sounding ridiculous.

[highplainsdem]

23. Real on-air talent can make important contributions to their communities,

from discovering local artists to drawing attention to local charities, fund drives, blood drives, etc.

Real on-air talent can also add needed diversity to playlists, if allowed. The tremendous expansion and creativity in popular music that we saw in the '60s and '70s was helped by DJs.

And yes, having that replaced by AI or automation of any type is bad.

But go on praising AI. Maybe you could found a church for AI worshippers?

[honest.abe]

24. Your intense anti-AI sentiment is bizarre.

Im done with this thread.

[Ilsa]

25. Another AI implementation. I think I'll watch M3GAN again.

It was a fun movie.

[LudwigPastorius]

26. The Simpsons...30 years ago: