A journalist watches the video presentation of virtual TV host Fedha, on the Twitter account of the news site Kuwait News, in Kuwait on April 9, 2023 (AFP/YASSER AL-ZAYYAT)
A Kuwaiti media this week unveiled a virtual television host, generated by artificial intelligence, with the ambition of entrusting her with the presentation of a news bulletin in the Gulf country.
Dressed in a white v-neck T-shirt, covered with a black jacket, “Fedha” appeared on the Twitter account of the news site Kuwait News on Saturday, as part of a project still in the development phase. test.
“I’m Fedha, the first presenter in Kuwait who works with artificial intelligence at Kuwait News. What kind of news do you prefer? Let’s hear your opinions,” she says in classical Arabic.
The site, affiliated with Kuwait Times, the first English-language daily in the Gulf founded in 1961, is testing the potential of artificial intelligence to offer “new and innovative content”, its editor told AFP. Deputy, Abdullah Boftain.
According to him, the presenter could in the future adopt the Kuwaiti accent and present a news bulletin on the Twitter account of Kuwait News, followed by more than 1.2 million subscribers.
“Fedha is a popular old Kuwaiti name that refers to silver, metal. We always imagine robots to be silver and metal in color, so we combined the two,” said Abdullah Boftain.
As for the physical appearance of the presenter, blonde with light eyes, it reflects, according to him, the diversity of the population in this rich oil country, made up of Kuwaitis and expatriates.
“Fedha represents everyone,” he added.
His 13-second presentation video sparked many reactions on social networks, especially from journalists. “Our jobs are in danger. Will Fedha and her colleagues be our replacements in the near future?” asked one of them.
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© 2023 AFP
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