Channel 1, a national news channel set to launch next year, has announced that it will be replacing human anchors with hyper-realistic AI-generated avatars. These avatars, created using artificial intelligence technology, are designed to look, talk, and move like real humans. Some of the avatars are "digital doubles," created from scans of actual people, and will read the news with a digitally generated voice. However, for more important stories, actual human anchors will report from the scene.
The founder of Channel 1, Adam Mosam, acknowledges that the misuse of AI-generated news is inevitable but aims to create a responsible use of the technology. The company plans to be transparent with viewers about what footage is original and what is AI-generated. In situations where original footage is unavailable, such as a news story about dinosaur extinction, AI-generated video will be shown onscreen and clearly labeled as such. The company compares this approach to courtroom sketches.
Channel 1 intends to stream its news on TV apps and will add a translation feature to roll it out globally. The company's goal is to produce personalized news streams, allowing viewers to select which news stories they want to watch. The app will learn a viewer's preferences and habits over time. Additionally, the company plans to provide news from three sources: partnerships with legacy news outlets, commissioned freelance journalists, and AI-generated news reports from trusted official sources.
While Channel 1's use of AI-generated avatars raises concerns about people's rights to their own likeness, the company promises to follow best practices and standards to avoid misusing anyone's likeness. The company is currently fundraising to meet its growth goals, although specific dollar amounts have not been disclosed.
In summary, Channel 1 is set to revolutionize the news industry by replacing human anchors with hyper-realistic AI-generated avatars. The company aims to provide personalized news streams and be transparent with viewers about the use of AI-generated content.