Radio Lays Off Journalists and “Hires” AI, Then Interviews Nobel Laureate Who Has Passed Away 12 Years Ago
Radio OFF Krakow dismissed its employees and „employed” artificial intelligence instead, sparking a major debate in Poland regarding the use of this technology in creative industries.
Radio OFF Krakow laid off its employees and “hired” an artificial intelligence, igniting a significant debate in Poland about the use of this technology in creative fields. Moreover, the station has also used the voice of the deceased Nobel laureate to “conduct an interview” with her. This particular case took place in Krakow, a major city in Poland and the capital of the Lesser Poland Voivodeship. An online radio platform, which also had a presence in traditional radio and employed people, decided to relaunch one of its channels with a twist: the human presenters were replaced by AI.
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AI Experiment?
According to the information on Radio Krakow's official website, the AI-powered station features three Gen Z hosts. First up is 20-year-old Emilii "Emi" Nowak, described as a "journalism student and pop culture expert, who passionately follows the latest trends in cinema, music, and fashion." The second host is Jakub "Kuba" Zielinski, a student of Acoustic Engineering at AGH University of Science and Technology. Kuba is a tech and music enthusiast, always on the lookout for cutting-edge sound production and new technological innovations. Finally, there’s Alex, a socially engaged host with a strong interest in identity, queer culture, and the impact of media on society.
However, this doesn’t mean that real people will disappear from the radio entirely. For instance, Wojciech Barczynski will still be responsible for the station’s music programming, though he’ll be using AI to assist him in his work.
According to Ewa Dudek, from Radio Krakow's Management Office, the decision to implement AI was driven by the unsatisfactory performance of the previous programming and the desire to better align with the interests and preferences of listeners aged 18-26.
It’s important to note that Off Radio Krakow has faced several challenges, including a low listener count and being in the process of liquidation. Additionally, the few spoken segments are led by contractual employees rather than full-time employees. Another key issue is the concern over alleged layoffs in favor of AI. While no full-time employees were let go, some contractual employees were. Marcin Pulit, the liquidator of Radio Krakow, addressed the situation, clarifying the details of these changes:
No one has been fired from Radio Krakow due to the introduction of artificial intelligence tools. These were freelancers doing programs for us once a week as guests. The contracts expired not because artificial intelligence came in, but because this format doesn't work, because it overlaps in content with two other programs, and there are no outreaches.
Opinions of journalists and artists
The situation has drawn reactions from artists and journalists who were involved in the platform's early development and contributed content before the company shifted its strategy. In response, these creators have launched a petition addressed to the National Broadcasting Council and other advocates of Polish culture and art. So far, over 16,000 people have signed the petition, expressing their concerns about the direction of Off Radio Krakow and its impact on the future of Polish cultural content.
We claim that this “experiment” harms not only OFF journalists, but entire environment. The case of OFF Radio Krakow is an important memento for the entire industry. It is a dangerous precedent striking at all of us. It's the abrogation of a gateway - or perhaps even the opening of a gate - to a world in which experienced employees with long-standing ties to the media sector and those employed in the creative industries will be replaced by machines.
- Mateusz Demski, journalist and film critic
The concerns of artists and creators are not unfounded, as AI is increasingly being adopted across various sectors of the media industry. However, the case of Off Radio Krakow stands out because it openly embraces the use of artificial intelligence in a creative field. This could set a significant precedent for the future.
A resolution to this situation seems far off, especially since Radio Krakow is currently in the process of liquidation. This case could signal the need for a new legal framework addressing the large-scale use of AI in creative industries.
Deceased Nobel laureate interview
Another controversy involving Off Radio Krakow is its use of the voice of the late Polish Nobel laureate Wislawa Szymborska in an AI-generated interview. Wislawa Szymborska, who passed away in 2012, left behind a rich legacy of literary achievements. She was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1996 “for poetry that with ironic precision allows the historical and biological context to come to light in fragments of human reality.” This use of her voice has sparked debate, raising questions about the ethical implications of employing AI to replicate the voices of deceased individuals.
She is a highly revered figure in Poland, which is why the use of her AI-generated voice was met with backlash. OFF Radio Krakow announced the presence of Szymborska’s voice on their station with the following statement:
OFF Radio Krakow is very pleased to present a conversation with one of the most prominent figures in Polish literature, the Nobel Prize in Literature winner Wislawa Szymborska!
In the interview, Szymborska shared her thoughts on Korean literature and this year's Nobel laureate, Han Kang. She also told us how she herself experienced the moment when she learned that she had received the Nobel Prize. We also find out what her literary types are for the future!
It's worth noting that the Wislawa Szymborska Foundation approved the use of the poet's voice in the AI-generated conversation. However, as I mentioned, this remains a controversial topic that will likely persist, reflecting the rapidly changing landscape of AI usage in creative fields.
OFF Radio Krakow
OFF Radio Krakow is an internet-based and DAB+ radio program run by Radio Krakow. It primarily focuses on independent culture and music. The station first went on air on February 1, 2015. What really sets OFF Radio Krakow apart today is its unusual approach—now it describes itself as "the first radio station almost entirely created by artificial intelligence."
