Modern Life Is Rubbish #2: Robots On The Radio

 An old radio friend of mine emailed an article about a major UK radio group beginning to run AI traffic and travel bulletins. “It’s started!” he said.

Cage The Elephant - Tiny Little Robots

Indeed. So it has. It came as no surprise that the group spearheading this revolution is Bauer Media – compared by many of my former radio colleagues to The Empire in Star Wars for the way they systematically swallowed up smaller radio stations that were delivering local content and then drained them of life, homogenising them to the point where they were identical to every other local station on the dial.

Joe Jackson - Don't Wanna Be Like That

I’m not claiming to be any kind of clairvoyant, but back in the 90s I wrote a comic called The Jock about a society that was ruled by a corporation called YOURENT, a media company which controlled the population through bland identikit radio output that played only computer-generated mind-control muzak. The Jock and his small group of “rebel DJs” fought against YOURENT by playing the old songs / “real” music in the hopes of waking people up and reminding them of their lost freedom. But it was a losing battle…

Buzzcocks - Airwaves Dreams

It’s only a matter of time until more and more of our radio stations jettison human content altogether in favour of robots. Meanwhile, Paul McCartney, Kate Bush and Sam Fender are leading the fight against AI music… but I’m sure the record companies will be glad to see the back of those trouble-makers.

Does it matter if our traffic and travel bulletins are delivered by machines? Bauer Media reply:

“This development is a natural evolution of our long-standing services. Bulletins are generated through INRIX’s traffic intelligence and automation systems, with delivery informed by the tone and style of our experienced broadcast journalists to ensure continuity and familiarity for listeners.”

“The result provides clear, consistent and recognisable traffic updates, delivered faster than ever before and opening the door to even more precise and personalised information in the future.”

They might just as well have said, “This development is a natural evolution of our long-standing commitment to maximising profits.”

Mitch Ryder - It's Not For Me (The Corporate Song)

Putting aside the loss of human jobs, radio is also losing all its humanity. I stopped wanting to be a radio presenter the day I realised a lot of radio bosses were no longer interested in personality, innovation, creativity or humour. When they started timing DJ links, restricting the number of times a presenter could speak within an hour, scripting the output to remove any potential for spontaneity or wit. “It’s only a travel bulletin,” you might well reply. But I’ve enjoyed many a travel bulletin delivered by human beings in the past, when presenters and journalists have been allowed to chat to each other like real people. I’m thinking of Sally Traffic on Radio 2, or Terry Wogan’s hilarious Janet & John stories, inspired by newsreader John Marsh. 

Diesel Park West - The Corporate Waltz 

Will there come a day when we can no longer hear a human voice on our radios? I asked the AI-Gods. Here’s what they told me…

It is highly unlikely that radio stations will soon use only AI voices. Instead, the industry is moving towards a hybrid model where AI voices handle repetitive tasks and behind-the-scenes production, while human hosts remain crucial for live interaction, genuine emotional connection, and creative, unscripted content.

How much do you bet the AI Overlords stole that bit from an article written by a human? In other words, they’re just telling us what we want to hear.

Despite the technological advancements, the "human touch" remains a cornerstone of successful radio broadcasting:

Spontaneity and Improvisation: AI is not yet capable of the seamless, real-time banter, empathy, and improvisation that define live radio, especially during breaking news or call-in shows.

Not yet capable…!

The Flaming Lips - Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots Pt. 1

Building Community and Trust: A host's ability to share personal anecdotes, build a genuine connection with listeners, and show empathy during local tragedies is a fundamentally human skill that AI cannot replicate.

Cannot yet?

Audience Preference: Listeners are generally more accepting of AI for informational content but prefer a human voice for personality-driven shows. Transparency about the use of AI is also crucial for maintaining audience trust.

Lothar & the Hand People - Machines

If human beings trust Donald Trump enough to elect him to the White House twice, then I’m sure we can grow to trust SKYNET and its Terminators in no time at all.

The use of AI in radio also raises ethical considerations regarding job displacement and the need for transparency. Industry experts and professional bodies are emphasizing the need for clear guidelines and the upskilling of the workforce to manage the new roles that AI creates, such as AI Voice Managers and prompt engineers.

What do you want to be when you grow up, Timmy? A DJ? 

No chance. How about training to be an AI Voice Manager instead?

In conclusion, while AI is fundamentally changing how radio content is produced, it is seen as a powerful tool to augment, not completely replace, human hosts. The future of radio is a collaboration between human creativity and AI efficiency.

Omega Theatre - Robots, Machines And Silicon Dreams

OK, HAL 9000, follow-up question…

Will AI replace human beings altogether?

AI is expected to transform human jobs and tasks, rather than completely replace human beings on a mass scale.

I reckon that means we can live on as part of the Matrix.

And the radio is in the hands of such a lot of fools

Tryin' to anesthetize the way that you feel