Virtual Broadcasters Capture the Attention of Indian Farmers

posted  18 Jun 2024
Photo - Virtual Broadcasters Capture the Attention of Indian Farmers
Doordarshan, India's public broadcasting service, has introduced an agricultural show with AI-driven virtual hosts named Krish and Bhumi. Currently, they broadcast in Hindi, but plans are in place to add support for up to 50 languages.

These virtual hosts use pre-written scripts to deliver information on the latest research, government initiatives, weather forecasts, emerging agricultural trends, and more. The broadcaster intends to roll out virtual hosts across other thematic channels in the future.

While viewership ratings have not been disclosed, some anticipate high ratings, believing that farmers won't discern the difference in presentation. However, there is criticism about replacing professional hosts with AI without adequate regulation.

Last year, another media company, India Today Group, introduced their AI-based virtual host, Sana. Similar to Doordarshan's approach, Sana works alongside a human editor, making it not entirely automated AI news.