Journalism has never been this... *techy*, you guys.
GMA Integrated News (GMAIN) made a daring move to launch the very first Artificial Intelligence (AI)-generated sportscasters in the Philippines. The media outfit made the announcement on Saturday, September 23.
GMA Integrated News together with GMA New Media Inc. (NMI), and GMA Synergy are set to unveil their latest innovation for the start of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Season 99 on September 24, Sunday.
The AI sportscasters namely Maia and Marco will be reporting the latest and the biggest sports news in the country.
GMA Executive Oliver Victor Amoroso describes their digital initiative as an avenue for the network to promote inclusivity in their sports reportage and to exhibit innovation in journalism.
"It aligns with our mission to serve all communities within the nation and promote inclusivity in our reporting. [...] We embrace emerging technologies to stay at the forefront of the media industry by providing our audience with a modern and engaging sports news experience," Oliver explained.
"Through this initiative, we continue to fulfill our commitment to providing valuable information and enriching the lives of Filipinos worldwide," he added.
However, some netizens seem to *not* appreciate their initiative.
While some left heart reactions on GMA News' social media announcement, many netizens seemed uncomfortable about watching AI-generated reporters.
Some people from the Internet think that AI as reporters is a discouraging move, especially for students of mass communication. A netizen even commented, "This is in fact a sad day for all of us. Technology slowly replacing humans in all fields."
Others also argued that the move to produce AI-generated reporters was not an inclusive step as it somehow disregards talented humans to be reporters. Some saw it as unsettling.
One comment questioned whether the AI sportscaster can even be passionate just like how sports reporters do it on real coverages.
"Also, sports are heavily driven by passion, excitement, and human drama. An AI might lack the ability to convey the emotional highs and lows of a game, reducing viewer engagement," the netizen claimed.
What do you think of GMA's AI-generated sportscasters?
