Polish radio station sparks controversy by replacing journalists with AI presenters
A Polish radio station has ignited a nationwide debate by laying off its journalists and introducing AI-generated “presenters.” OFF Radio Krakow, based in southern Poland, announced this week that it is undertaking “the first experiment in Poland” featuring virtual characters created by artificial intelligence to engage younger audiences on cultural, artistic, and social topics, including LGBTQ+ issues.
The station’s director, Marcin Pulit, stated, “Is artificial intelligence more of an opportunity or a threat to media, radio and journalism? We will seek answers to this question,” as part of the initiative.
The decision to replace human journalists has drawn sharp criticism, particularly from Mateusz Demski, a journalist and film critic who previously hosted a show on the station. In an open letter, Demski protested against the layoffs, calling it a “dangerous precedent” that threatens to displace experienced media professionals with machines. His letter resonated widely, with over 15,000 people signing a petition against the move by Wednesday morning. Many young individuals expressed their opposition to being part of such an experiment.
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Demski, who worked at OFF Radio Krakow since February 2022 and interviewed Ukrainians fleeing war, described the decision as shocking, especially given that the station is publicly funded. Pulit defended the station’s actions, asserting that the layoffs were not a direct result of AI but rather due to a drastic drop in listenership, which he noted was “close to zero.”
Krzysztof Gawkowski, Poland’s minister of digital affairs, weighed in on the controversy, stating that legislation is needed to regulate AI in the media. He acknowledged Demski’s concerns and stressed that AI’s development should benefit people, not hinder them.
In a peculiar twist, the station aired an “interview” conducted by an AI presenter using a voice that mimicked Polish Nobel laureate Wisława Szymborska, who passed away in 2012. Michał Rusinek, president of the Wisława Szymborska Foundation, confirmed that he permitted the station to use Szymborska’s name for the broadcast, suggesting that the poet would have found humour in the situation.
As the discussion around AI’s role in journalism continues to unfold, the implications of this experiment raise significant questions about the future of media and the workforce within it.
Written by Sakinat Musa Abubakar, Editor at Neptune Prime
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