Kuwait has joined the ranks of countries that are incorporating Artificial Intelligence (AI) in media by introducing a virtual newscaster named “Fedha.”
The AI robot, which was introduced on Twitter by the Kuwait News website, is a woman with an uncovered head, black jacket, and white T-shirt. Abdullah Boftain, deputy editor-in-chief for both outlets, said that it tested AI’s potential to offer “new and innovative content.”
The presenter’s initial 13-second video garnered various different reactions on social media.
According to Boftain, Fedha could adopt the Kuwaiti accent in the future and present news bulletins on the site’s Twitter account, which has 1.2 million followers. “Fedha is a popular, old Kuwaiti name that refers to silver … We always imagine robots to be silver and metallic in color, so we combined the two,” Boftain said.
Fedha’s blond hair and light-colored eyes reflect the oil-rich country’s diverse population of Kuwaitis and expatriates, he added.
While the rapid rise of AI worldwide has promised benefits in areas such as healthcare, it has also raised concerns about its potential to spread disinformation and threaten jobs and artistic integrity.
Kuwait, which ranked 158 out of 180 countries and territories in the Reporters Without Borders 2022 Press Freedom Index, will need to address these concerns as it explores the use of AI in media.
As Boftain noted, “Fedha represents everyone,” indicating that AI technology has the potential to create inclusive representation in media.
However, it remains to be seen how AI will shape the future of news reporting and whether it will enhance or undermine traditional journalism.