Jeju Island Embraces Virtual Human Presenter for “Weekly Jeju” Broadcasts
In the age of digital innovation, a virtual announcer is the new face of Jeju Island’s online policy broadcasts. Launched in early March, “Weekly Jeju” has generated significant buzz due to its artificial intelligence (AI) host, “J-NA,” a digital creation designed to resemble a woman in her 20s or 30s. This AI host is not endowed with learning capabilities; rather, she recites scripted lines into vocals once fed the text.
The program airs every Friday, made available to citizens both on Jeju’s official website and YouTube channel, “Shining JejuTV.” Additionally, Jeju government and administrative city staff can access the program via the Jeju Olle and administrative systems.
Despite being a non-learning AI, “J-NA” has received attention for her convincing human likeness. The use of a virtual human, a 3D avatar built on AI and cutting-edge graphics technology, represents a stride in public communication. The Jeju government pays a monthly usage fee of 600,000 won to the AI service provider.
Official statements from Jeju authorities highlight the benefits of this AI presenter, noting the ability to produce video news with reduced restriction by time and location, while also cutting costs. However, some internet users have expressed mixed feelings, ranging from amazement at the pace of AI advancement to discomfort due to the ‘uncanny valley’—a phenomenon where hyper-realistic robots or avatars can provoke unease.
Virtual Humans and The Public Sector
In the public sector, where standard pronunciation is critical, challenges still exist with the AI speech’s technical limitations. Disparities in quality among machine voice services are evident. Some parts of J-NA’s speech don’t fit smoothly into natural speech patterns, with misplaced inflections occasionally making statements sound less authentic.
As Jeju Island focuses on digital transformation within its administrative domain, employing tools like AI and “J-NA,” it’s clear that this virtual host may increasingly integrate into residents’ daily lives. The continuous evolution of virtual humans like “J-NA” and their adoption within public services are being closely watched.
The emergence of AI announcers not only impacts the media industry but holds the potential to positively affect our society as a whole. As we enter the AI era, we are presented with opportunities and challenges, urging us to combine wisdom and creativity for a better future.
Important Questions and Answers:
- Why has Jeju Island introduced a virtual AI announcer for its broadcasts?
Jeju Island has introduced the AI announcer for the “Weekly Jeju” broadcasts to take advantage of the ability to produce video news without the limitations of time and location and to reduce costs. - What technical challenges does the AI announcer, J-NA, face?
AI speech often encounters technical limitations, such as naturalness of voice and fluency. J-NA’s speech sometimes shows misplaced inflections that disrupt natural speech patterns, making it evident that the system is not perfect. - What is the ‘uncanny valley’ and how does it relate to AI announcers like J-NA?
The ‘uncanny valley’ refers to the phenomenon where hyper-realistic robots or avatars can provoke unease among humans. This has been a point of contention for AI announcers like J-NA, with some individuals feeling discomforted by the lifelike appearance yet non-human behaviors.
Key Challenges and Controversies:
A significant challenge is enhancing the AI’s speech so it is indistinguishable from a human broadcaster. The ‘uncanny valley’ effect also presents a challenge; it can be difficult to create a virtual human that is well-received by all users. Controversies may stem from concerns about job displacement in the broadcasting industry or ethical considerations regarding AI interactions with humans.
Advantages and Disadvantages:
- Advantages:
- Cost-effectiveness: AI announcers can reduce the operational cost of producing news broadcasts.
- Availability: They remove the physical constraints of location and time, offering flexible scheduling for news dissemination.
- Consistency: Virtual AI hosts like J-NA can provide consistent pronunciation and are not subject to human error.
- Innovation: Embracing AI technology positions Jeju Island as an innovator in the digital transformation of public communication.
- Disadvantages:
- Social acceptance: The uncanny valley effect may deter some viewers and lead to reduced engagement.
- Technical imperfections: Imperfect speech synthesis can detract from the authenticity of the broadcasts.
- Lack of adaptability: As a non-learning AI, J-NA is unable to adapt autonomously to new situations or respond spontaneously.
- Employment concerns: The use of AI announcers could potentially lead to job losses in the broadcasting sector.
For more information on AI and related developments, interested readers can visit the official websites of international organizations at IEEE or academic journals specializing in AI research at AAAI. It’s crucial to ensure that the provided URL is valid and points directly to the respective organization’s main page, avoiding links to subpages.