Kuwait just launched its first news presenter using artificial intelligence, and the internet is kind of shook.
Kuwait News—affiliated with the Kuwait Times—debuted an AI-generated anchor on Twitter
The presenter 'Fedha,' disclosed in Arabic:
“I’m Fedha, the first presenter in Kuwait who works with artificial intelligence at Kuwait News."
The anchor - sporting blonde hair, a black blazer and a white shirt - then asked:
"What kind of news do you prefer?”
"Let's hear your opinions."
You can watch the clip below.
@thenewsmovement Meet Fedha, the world’s first AI generated news presenter from Kuwait News 🗞️ 🗣️ Is this the future of news? #kuwait #ai
Deputy editor-in-chief Adbullah Boftain explained the presenter's name to AFP:
"Fedha is a popular, old Kuwaiti name that refers to silver, the metal."
"We always imagine robots to be silver and metallic in color, so we combined the two."
Viewers of the clip took to social media to express their thoughts, although most didn't have them quite gathered.
\u201c@emilythomasbbc Uh oh.\u201d— Emily Thomas (@Emily Thomas) 1681211927
\u201cOh no\n\nhttps://t.co/0WFWAdfLXb\u201d— Emily Thomas (@Emily Thomas) 1681211927
\u201c@jimjakobs \ud83d\ude27\u201d— Jim Jakobs (@Jim Jakobs) 1681228423
\u201c@TheInsiderPaper This is getting bad...\u201d— Insider Paper (@Insider Paper) 1681149854
\u201c@SkyNews We live in strange times!!\u201d— Sky News (@Sky News) 1681202406
\u201c@TheInsiderPaper\u201d— Insider Paper (@Insider Paper) 1681149854
Many are wondering if this is the beginning of the end for news anchors as we currently know them.
\u201c#Kuwait unveils #AI news anchor: Is this the future of media? \ud83e\udd14\u201d— Brexit Leo (@Brexit Leo) 1681320940
\u201c@1NewsNZ So it's media jobs on the chopping block huh?\u201d— 1News (@1News) 1681174854
\u201c@RT_com Mainstream media is shaking in their boots. U thought you were exempt from being replaced \ud83e\udd23 they are coming for everyones job\u201d— RT (@RT) 1681377600
\u201c@metanews_com @KuwaitNews @OpenAI @carlbfrey @GoldmanSachs This just goes far to say that AI will eventually take our jobs\u201d— MetaNews.com (@MetaNews.com) 1681301336
But some also argue that this fashion of news delivery could help eliminate bias... maybe.
\u201c@brexitleo Probably be more animated and unbiased than the usual pile of dross.\u201d— Brexit Leo (@Brexit Leo) 1681320940
\u201c@brexitleo Let\u2019s hope so , they will just read news without giving their biased opinion . Unless of course they are programmed to be biased\u201d— Brexit Leo (@Brexit Leo) 1681320940
\u201c@SkyNews Honesty! Unbiased!\u201d— Sky News (@Sky News) 1681217388
Several questioned Fedha's appearance, as well.
\u201c@trtworld I know a lot of Kuwaitis and they don't look like this. It's the AI Europeanization of Kuwait. Let's make ourselves look like we're from Europe not the middle East and Africa. Sad and wishful thinking on the part of men.\u201d— TRT World (@TRT World) 1681155000
\u201c@RT_com Weird because I have never seen a Kuwaiti with Nordic/Slavic features \ud83d\ude42\ud83d\ude42\ud83d\ude43\u201d— RT (@RT) 1681377600
\u201c@RT_com does not look very kuwaiti to me \ud83e\udd2d\u201d— RT (@RT) 1681377600
\u201c@TheInsiderPaper Why is she white?\u201d— Insider Paper (@Insider Paper) 1681149854
But Boftain shared of her look:
“Fedha represents everyone."
Boftain also revealed Fedha's debut is a test of AI's potential for "new and innovative content."
The current plan is for Fedha to read online bulletins, but we have a feeling that is only the beginning.