4 World VIDEOAGE January 2024 (Continued on Page 6) However, Channel 1 news is not backing a new concept. In 2018, the state news channel in China began using AI news anchors. In fact, a female AI figure, known as Ren Xiaorong (pictured), is still providing on-air news 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. A second news channel was developed in Bhubaneswar, India, by OTV Network in July 2023. The fake anchors on Ch.1 will be modeled on real people and one has to wonder what sort of compensation those people will receive. One also wonders if the channel will have to pay into a SAG-AFTRA union fund because they are putting members out of work or if there will be a reduction in screen time for AI newscasters in order to make room for some actual human newscasters. In addition, if the channel delivers a 100 percent app-based service, will any such union concerns count anyway, as it will not fall under traditional and current broadcast guidelines? The channel is implementing another tool that will indicate the type of news viewers prefer. Once they have been watching for a certain period and established a pattern, the channel will deliver stories accordingly. The big and bold plans promised by the channel’s founder, Adam Mosam, also include the ability to translate the news into different languages. A former chief digital officer at Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, Mosam has also been involved in Binspy Systems, AnyDATA, and Pivotshare, and is still involved with Startup Index Fund and Okay Bears, as well as a projected 2025 start for Momorobo, an Applied AI + Robotics Studio. He has partnered on the Channel 1 project with film/TV producer and director Scott Zabielski. Demos viewed by VideoAge show realistic-looking anchors, but one has to wonder how realistic they will be when it comes to breaking news. If the Los Angeles-based Channel 1 news debuts its AI format (funding for which is still underway) as promised, it will stream its content on FAST platforms in the first quarter of 2024, with the Channel 1 app arriving a few months later. Already, industry figures and journalists have made their feelings known about this possible development. Kristen Ruby, CEO of Ruby Media Group, commented on social media, “If you believe in the concept of ‘fake news,’ you have seen nothing. When AI news anchors replace human news anchors — the concept of fake news will have a totally different meaning.” David Sloat of The Tech Wire noted that critics have “concerns about AI news spreading misinformation and lacking journalistic standards regarding accuracy.” After China and India, AI TV News Comes to the U.S. JANUARY 29 - FEBRUARY 1, 2024 � SHERATON NEW ORLEANS Nancy Abraham EVP, Documentary & Family Programming HBO Lisa Heller EVP, Documentary & Family Programming HBO Tom McDonald EVP, Global Factual and Unscripted Content National Geographic Robert Mills EVP, Unscripted & Alternative Entertainment Walt Disney Television IF YOU’RE IN THE UNSCRIPTED BIZ, THIS IS WHERE YOU NEED TO BE SUMMIT.REALSCREEN.COM KEYNOTES INCLUDE:
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