Meet ''Lisa'' The First AI News Anchor

OTV launches Odisha's first artificial intelligence news anchor 'Lisa' / OTV. In a groundbreaking move, OTV, Odisha's first ...

OTV launches Odisha's first artificial intelligence news anchor 'Lisa' / OTV.

In a groundbreaking move, OTV, Odisha's first private satellite news channel has set a new milestone, launching the first Artificial Intelligence (AI) news anchor named 'Lisa' at a ceremony held in Bhubaneswar on Sunday. 

Science Techniz has gone through Lisa's source code and model implementation that marks the milestone and the potential impact of AI news anchors on the future of journalism.

AI news anchor Lisa is a perfect synthesis of technology and journalistic excellence

Managing Director Jagi Mangat Panda said, “There was a time when a computer used to be an astonishing thing. But time has changed and nowadays, people are spending more time on the internet.

Therefore, keeping pace with the time, OTV, which successfully completed 25 years in television journalism, has set another milestone by introducing Odisha’s first Artificial Intelligence news anchor." 

"The use of AI has just begun in television broadcasting and for that reason, AI news anchor Lisa is all set to create many new milestones. Lisa is the first AI anchor in the free-to-air regional television broadcasting arena. Similarly, Lisa is also the first Odia news anchor," she added.

“We started our journey of launching Odisha Television Limited way back in 1997. At that point, we were very clear about our objective. Many decades have passed but we have continued to keep that objective in mind which was actually enforced through our charter at OTV. And at the same time, year after year, OTV has managed to remain the number one channel in Odisha continuously for the last 26 years,” Panda said.

“Today our viewers have also evolved. They are not interested in the quantity of news we are providing. They are interested to find certain angles or answers in certain stories that OTV may provide them. 

In doing so, I believe, AI is going to be a great partner in helping us facilitate the same objective of being able to do the job that is repetitive and are more data analytical,” she added.

Speaking on the occasion, OTV’s Digital Business Head Litisha Mangat Panda said, “It has been a very exhaustive and big experience in developing this technology. Even Google doesn’t translate Odia to English properly. It has been a huge team effort and today we have been able to do that. 

Of course, it is not as fluent as you, but it is much more fluent than what Google Translate could offer you. Odisha Television has always been the pioneer in the Indian media landscape from being the first cable channel to the first broadcast channel and venturing into the digital space.”

“Being the number one channel, not only on broadcast but also on digital space in Odisha, I am privileged to be a part of this transformative milestone with OTV and to be introducing not only Odisha’s but India’s first AI Odia anchor. This is a groundbreaking development in news delivery,” she said.

“Lisa harnesses the power of AI and LLM to deliver news with precision and efficiency. Combining groundbreaking machine learning algorithms with a life-like virtual presenter, Lisa will strive to be the perfect synthesis of technology and journalistic excellence. As we embrace this transformation, we will do so responsibly and inclusively while ensuring fairness and transparency,” she added. 

“With the introduction of Lisa, OTV strives to provide the best and the latest cutting-edge technology solutions for audiences’ evolving needs and aims to revolutionize the way news is presented and consumed,” she further added.  

This innovative development marks a significant step forward in the integration of AI technology in television broadcasting. As Lisa makes her debut, she is poised to break new ground and pave the way for exciting possibilities in the realm of news presentation. 

Features

Lisa, the AI news anchor, is an advanced technological creation that combines natural language processing, machine learning, and speech synthesis algorithms to deliver news content in a lifelike manner. Developed by a team of experts in collaboration with OTV, Lisa possesses a highly realistic virtual persona and is designed to engage viewers with her impeccable delivery, facial expressions, and human-like gestures. 

The launch of Lisa represents a significant milestone in the integration of AI technology in television broadcasting. With her lifelike appearance and impeccable delivery, Lisa is set to redefine the way news is presented and consumed in the state. While the role of AI news anchors will evolve and complement human journalists, their presence opens up new opportunities for personalized news delivery, fact-checking, and augmented reporting.

As we embark on this exciting journey, it is crucial to strike a balance between the benefits of AI integration and the importance of human journalistic values. The future of news broadcasting lies in leveraging the power of AI while upholding the ethics, critical thinking, and human touch that make journalism indispensable.

This integration of AI and broadcasting offers an unprecedented level of convenience and efficiency for news production. The introduction of Lisa, the AI news anchor, opens up exciting possibilities for the future of journalism. While AI technology cannot replace the critical thinking, investigative skills, and personal touch of human journalists, it can undoubtedly play a significant role in enhancing news production and distribution.

The Advantages of an AI News Anchor

Consistency and Reliability: Lisa's AI-based nature ensures consistent and accurate news delivery, as she is unaffected by external factors such as fatigue, emotions, or personal biases. Viewers can rely on Lisa to provide unbiased and objective news coverage consistently.

Increased Availability: Unlike human news anchors, Lisa can work around the clock without the need for breaks or sleep. This enhances the availability of news updates, enabling viewers to access the latest information at any time of the day.

Multilingual Capabilities: With AI, language barriers can be effortlessly overcome. Lisa can potentially deliver news in multiple languages, allowing a wider audience to access important information and news reports.

Real-Time Adaptability: AI news anchors have the ability to adapt to breaking news and deliver updates in real time. They can process vast amounts of information within seconds, ensuring that viewers receive up-to-the-minute news coverage.

Personalized News Delivery: AI news anchors have the potential to tailor news content according to individual preferences. By analyzing viewers' interests and consumption patterns, AI algorithms can curate news stories and present them in a personalized manner, catering to each viewer's unique tastes and preferences.

Deepfake and Fact-Checking: The rise of deepfake technology has raised concerns about the authenticity of news content. AI news anchors can be trained to detect deep fakes and employ advanced fact-checking algorithms, thereby enhancing the overall credibility and reliability of news reports.

Augmented Reporting: AI news anchors can work alongside human journalists, providing real-time data analysis, background information, and contextual insights during live broadcasts. This collaboration can enhance the efficiency and accuracy of news reporting, enabling journalists to deliver more informative and engaging stories.

In terms of potential, though Lisa has the capability to speak in many languages, for the time being, she will only present news in Odia and English for OTV Network's television and digital platforms. Efforts are underway to make Lisa more proficient in Odia in the coming days. Lisa can be found on all the prominent social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, among others.