New Techs: Kuwait media outlet unveils presenter generated by Artificial Intelligence

*Abdullah Boftain, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of two Kuwait media outlets, discloses the move to generate ‘Fedha’, who ‘represents everyone,’ is a test of Artificial Intelligence (AI) potential to offer ‘new and innovative content’

Gbenga Kayode | ConsumerConnect

In demonstrating the power and benefits of one of the new technologies, a Kuwait media outlet, earlier this week, unveiled a news presenter generated by Artificial Intelligence (AI).

A Kuwaiti media outlet has unveiled a virtual news presenter generated, using Artificial Intelligence, with plans for it to read online bulletins.

“Fedha” appeared on the Twitter account of the Kuwait News Web site Saturday, April 8, 2023, as an image of a woman, her light-coloured hair uncovered, wearing a black jacket and white T-shirt, reports The New Arab.

She reportedly said in classical Arabic: “I’m Fedha, the first presenter in Kuwait who works with artificial intelligence at Kuwait News.

“What kind of news do you prefer? Let’s hear your opinions.”

The site is affiliated with the Kuwait Times, founded in 1961 as the Gulf region’s first English-language daily, report said.

Abdullah Boftain, Deputy Editor-in-Chief for both outlets, said the move was a test of AI’s potential to offer “new and innovative content”.

In future, Fedha could adopt the Kuwaiti accent and present news bulletins on the site’s Twitter account, which has 1.2 million followers, he said.

The New Arab staff ‘Fedha’

“Fedha is a popular, old Kuwaiti name that refers to silver, the metal.

“We always imagine robots to be silver and metallic in colour, so we combined the two,” Boftain said.

The presenter’s blonde hair and light-coloured eyes reflect the oil-rich country’s diverse population of Kuwaitis and expatriates, according to Boftain.

“Fedha represents everyone,” he said.

Her initial 13-second video generated a flood of reactions on social media, including from journalists.

The rise and benefits of AI

It is noted that the rapid rise of Artificial Intelligence globally, has raised the promise of benefits, such as in health care and the elimination of mundane tasks, but also fears, for example over its potential spread of disinformation, threat to certain jobs, and to artistic integrity.

Kuwait ranked 158 out of 180 countries and territories in the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) 2022 Press Freedom Index, according to report.