A Kuwaiti news outlet recently introduced a virtual news presenter created with artificial intelligence, with ambitions to have it read internet bulletins.
“Fedha” appeared as an image of a woman with her light-colored hair uncovered, wearing a black jacket and a white T-shirt on the Kuwait News website’s Twitter account.
“My name is Fedha, and I’m the first presenter in Kuwait to use artificial intelligence at Kuwait News.” What kind of news do you like to read? “Let us hear your thoughts,” she continued in traditional Arabic.
The website is associated with the Kuwait Times, which was established in 1961 as the Gulf region’s first English-language daily.
According to Abdullah Boftain, deputy editor-in-chief for both publications, the move is a test of AI’s ability to provide “new and innovative content.”
Fedha stated that in the future, he may assume a Kuwaiti accent and provide news bulletins on the site’s Twitter account, which has 1.2 million followers.”My name is Fedha, and I’m the first presenter in Kuwait to use artificial intelligence at Kuwait News.” What kind of news do you like to read? “Let us hear your thoughts,” she continued in traditional Arabic.
“Fedha is a popular, old Kuwaiti name that refers to the metal silver.” “We always imagine robots as silver and metallic in color, so we combined the two,” said Boftain.
According to Boftain, the presenter’s blonde hair and light-colored eyes symbolize the oil-rich country’s mixed population of Kuwaitis and expatriates.
“Fedha represents everyone,” he explained.
Her initial 13-second video prompted a barrage of social media replies, including from journalists.
