Polish radio station replaces journalists with AI, sparking outrage

A radio station in Poland, OFF Radio Krakow, has made headlines after replacing its human journalists with AI-generated "presenters." The station, based in Krakow, recently introduced three AI avatars as part of what it calls "the first experiment in Poland" involving virtual hosts, according to CNN. These AI presenters are designed to engage younger listeners by discussing topics such as culture, art, and LGBTQ+ issues.

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Station head Marcin Pulit described the move as an opportunity to explore whether AI is "an opportunity or a threat to media, radio, and journalism." However, the decision has faced significant backlash. Mateusz Demski, a former host who had been with the station since February 2022, openly condemned the shift in an open letter, warning that replacing human workers with AI sets a "dangerous precedent" that threatens jobs in the media and creative industries. His petition against the change had garnered over 15,000 signatures by Wednesday morning.

Pulit defended the decision, attributing the layoffs to declining audience numbers rather than the introduction of AI. Meanwhile, Poland’s digital affairs minister, Krzysztof Gawkowski, called for stricter AI regulations, emphasizing that AI's advancement should benefit people, not cause harm.

The move has ignited a debate over the role of AI in journalism and its impact on employment in creative fields.