[imagesource:channel1]

Looks like the days of the human news presenter are numbered.

A new global news network launching in 2024 is completely ditching humans for AI-generated newsreaders.

Channel 1 features a diverse array of photorealistic news anchors, each possessing the ability to communicate fluently in virtually any language. Their demeanour mirrors the traditional, formal body language commonly associated with television news and they exhibit a skilful mastery of humour comparable to that of professional news anchors, per New Atlas.

This service by Channel 1 promises to be a completely ‘personalised’ and ‘localised’ news aggregation platform. Rather than generating its news content using AI, it collates human-reported stories from globally recognised “trusted sources.” These stories are then reimagined as fully narrated, hosted, and edited news segments. Presented in a curated list tailored to your specific interests, this service mimics a personal TV station, complete with event footage and images.

With generative AI in charge, there’s even more capability, with talk of creating footage of events where cameras were not able to capture the action; “It’s the same way that a courtroom sketch is not a literal depiction of actual events, but can still provide important information or nuance to a news report” notes the AI anchor in the Channel 1 video below.

If that sounds freaky, it’s because it is.

In addition to generating video footage and images to complement reports, the AI can translate eyewitness accounts into any language. This includes incorporating accurate lip movements and preserving the original speaker’s vocal characteristics.

The AI can also apparently add its own analysis:

“Channel 1 has developed a unique new way to gauge sentiment,” says another fake presenter, “and it leverages our AI’s ability to read and analyze data almost instantly. I quickly read the most recent 30,000 tweets posted to X about the Cybertruck, and based on the emojis people have been using, sentiment on the vehicle is indeed very mixed.”

Watch Channel 1 introduce itself and give an example of a news report, complete with appropriate background music, overlays and news footage.

See the highest quality AI footage in the world.

🤯 – Our generated anchors deliver stories that are informative, heartfelt and entertaining.

Watch the showcase episode of our upcoming news network now. pic.twitter.com/61TaG6Kix3

— Channel 1 (@channel1_ai) December 12, 2023

A system like this will even let you choose your own presenter, language and style. It’ll bring you stories tailored to your personal tastes, lifted from news giants like Reuters and the Associated Press, and re-packaged the way you like them, complete with up-to-the-minute information depending on exactly when you choose to watch it.

Hopefully, there will still be human reporters on the ground capturing footage and writing about things.

This is the future people. Can we trust it?

[source:newatlas]