AI takes the mic at Off Radio Kraków

Poland’s Off Radio Kraków has replaced its human journalists with AI hosts, creating a media storm and raising questions about AI’s role in creative industries. The state-owned radio station, based in Poland’s second-largest city, recently relaunched as the country’s first station run entirely by AI, igniting a fierce debate over the future of human labor in media.

The transition to AI and the backlash

Mateusz Demski, one of the recently dismissed journalists, voiced his and his colleagues’ frustration through an open letter shared shortly after the AI takeover. The letter quickly gained traction, gathering over 15,000 petition signatures in just 24 hours. Demski argues that the decision to replace human presenters with AI characters not only threatens the livelihoods of experienced professionals but could also establish a troubling precedent in the creative industry.

“This is a dangerous precedent,” Demski wrote, referring to the potential implications for those working in media and other creative fields. According to him, the decision could signal a future where skilled professionals are rapidly replaced by machines, risking the unique human touch and diversity of thought that people bring to creative roles. For a public, state-owned station funded by taxpayers, the shift is particularly jarring, as the media institution’s decisions directly affect the community it serves.

 Off Radio Kraków’s decision to rely on AI hosts has ignited a conversation about AI’s role in journalism Off Radio Kraków’s justification: Declining listenership

Representatives from Off Radio Kraków defend the decision, citing dwindling listenership as the main reason for the layoffs. They claim the station was closed due to low ratings before reopening as an AI experiment. This technological shift, according to the station’s management, is an attempt to rejuvenate the station’s appeal and not an effort to undermine human employees.

By implementing AI, the station believes it’s tapping into a new era of broadcasting technology, a move intended to attract listeners and perhaps redefine media engagement in Poland.

Meet the AI radio hosts

Off Radio Kraków introduced three AI-generated hosts: Jakub Zieliński, Emilia “Emi” Nowak, and Alex Szulc. Each AI personality has distinct characteristics tailored to different content areas:

1. Jakub “Kuba” Zieliński is portrayed as an acoustic engineering student and tech enthusiast, covering trends in music production and technology.
2. Emilia “Emi” Nowak is a 20-year-old journalism student and pop culture aficionado, focused on fashion, cinema, and music.
3. Alex Szulc takes on cultural, societal, and LGBTQ+ topics, intended to bring diverse social insights to the programming.

Off Radio Kraków stated on social media that this trio represents an “experimental” approach to AI in media, aiming to engage audiences with relevant topics but through AI-led interactions. However, this explanation hasn’t softened the public’s backlash, especially as these AI personalities have replaced actual people with years of experience.

Critics argue AI lacks the empathy, nuance, and adaptability required for meaningful storytelling and media trust Why this AI transition is causing a stir?

This isn’t the first time AI has entered the radio space.

Previously, RadioGPT and India’s Radio City experimented with AI-based DJs, but these AI-driven efforts were gradually integrated into programming without displacing human staff en masse. Off Radio Kraków’s decision stands out because it involved terminating the employment of its entire journalism staff before replacing them with AI hosts. The starkness of the move has raised questions not just about automation but about ethics, transparency, and public trust in taxpayer-funded institutions.

Stable Audio 2.0 shows that AI can make music good enough to be played on the radio

The Polish government is not indifferent to these developments. Deputy Prime Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski commented on the matter, noting his support for AI’s advancement but stressing the importance of setting ethical boundaries. “The widespread use of AI must be done for people, not against them,” he stated, acknowledging the delicate balance between technological progress and human livelihood.

The creative sector at a crossroads

AI’s presence in creative industries is intensifying, often with contentious results. While AI has proven its utility in data analysis, automation, and even content generation, media professionals have voiced concerns about its limitations. They argue that AI, regardless of how advanced, may lack the depth, empathy, and spontaneity that characterize human-led storytelling and reporting.

For many critics, AI’s potential to dehumanize content is particularly troubling. While AI can sift through and present data, it lacks a journalist’s ability to empathize, interpret nuanced situations, and adapt to unforeseen challenges—all essential in fostering trust and rapport with listeners.

The technology’s role in jobs involving creative judgment and moral considerations remains controversial.

Image credits: Emre Çıtak/Ideogram AI