"Good at Foreign Languages Too"... The True Identity of the Weather Announcer

Japanese Broadcast Announces Introduction of AI Announcer
Aiming to Address Shortage of Skilled Personnel
‘Jaina’ Also Introduced in Jeju Last March

Japanese Ryukyu Asahi Broadcasting announced that it will introduce AI announcers starting January next year. DeepBrain AI

News has emerged that an artificial intelligence (AI)-generated announcer is being introduced on Japanese terrestrial broadcasting, attracting attention.

According to industry sources on the 28th, DeepBrain AI, a domestic generative AI specialist company, is collaborating with NEC (Nippon Electric Company) to introduce an AI announcer to Ryukyu Asahi Broadcasting, an Okinawa regional broadcaster affiliated with TV Asahi. NEC, a Japanese telecommunications and electronics company, has established a partnership with Ryukyu Asahi Broadcasting to build an AI announcer video automatic production system. In addition, DeepBrain AI plans to provide a hyper-realistic AI avatar based on its video synthesis platform for creating AI human videos called 'AI Studios.'

The AI announcer, born from the combination of AI human technology and NEC’s automated video production service, will deliver weather forecasts on Ryukyu Asahi Broadcasting’s terrestrial and internet broadcasts starting around January next year. The introduction of the AI announcer at Ryukyu Asahi Broadcasting is part of a digital transformation (DX) effort aimed at resolving the long-standing shortage of specialized personnel for program production. In particular, using AI human technology enables the production of videos in more than 80 languages without additional manpower or resource input, allowing it to meet the increasing demand from foreign residents in Japan.

AI Studios is equipped with 'Text-to-Video' technology, which generates an AI human when broadcast scripts are input as text, enabling the delivery of content with natural expressions and speech like a real announcer. Furthermore, when websites, articles, or reports are posted, it automatically composes suitable backgrounds, music, and other video elements to produce high-quality content.

In March, the Jeju provincial government introduced the AI announcer 'Jaina'. Photo by Jeju Province

Meanwhile, cases of AI announcer introduction can also be found domestically. In March, Jeju Province produced a policy video news program called 'Weekly JEJU' hosted by the AI announcer 'Jaina' and presented it to residents. The name 'Jaina' was derived from the initials of Jeju news and AI, and it is known that Jeju Province pays a monthly fee to use an AI character developed and owned by an external company.

At the time, a spokesperson from the Jeju Governor’s office stated, "By utilizing the AI announcer, we have been able to produce video news without being significantly constrained by time and place, while reducing costs," adding, "We are satisfied with both efficiency and attention." Jeju Governor Oh Young-hoon also said, "We will expand the use of artificial intelligence across all areas of provincial administration to accelerate digital innovation in the public sector and improve work efficiency, thereby enhancing the quality of life and satisfaction of residents."