An Australian radio station is in trouble after listeners found out one of its DJs wasn’t real. For six months, listeners thought “Thy” was a human host playing music and talking on the “Workdays with Thy” show. But actually, Thy was created by a computer using special voice technology.
The station, called CADA, never told anyone Thy wasn’t a real person. A writer named Stephanie became suspicious when she couldn’t find any information about Thy’s life or background. “What is Thy’s last name? Who is she? Where did she come from?” Stephanie asked in her blog.
After people started asking questions, the radio company admitted Thy was made with AI. A manager at the station said it was just an experiment to try new technology. He wrote online that Thy had “no mic, no studio, just code and vibes.”
Many people are upset because they thought they were listening to a real human. Voice actors and media experts say the station should have been honest from the start. “People believed they were connecting with a real person,” said one voice acting professional.
Right now, Australia doesn’t have rules against using AI like this on radio. But after this incident, many think there should be clearer rules about telling listeners when they’re hearing a computer voice instead of a real person.
The radio company says they were just testing how AI could help make better shows. But they now admit that real human DJs are still better at making shows people really enjoy. They’ve stopped using the AI host after all the complaints.
This situation has made many listeners feel tricked. Some say they shared personal stories with Thy, thinking they were talking to a real person. The station is now dealing with angry reactions from people who feel they were lied to for half a year.
