GAINESVILLE, FLA. — Artificial intelligence (AI) is expected to have significant impact on the consumption and production of media, including broadcast radio.
“To be at the forefront of understanding the impact of AI on the audio industry,” the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications (UFCJC) has partnered with Cleveland-based Futuri Media to help spur the acceptance of non-human voices to better connect AM and FM radio programming with human consumers.
The pact between the school and Futuri allows the use of Futuri’s RadioGPT AI technology on GHQ, UFCJC’s ongoing audio research and development platform.
GHQ, at 95.3 MHz, is W237EJ, a 250-watt translator placing a signal over Gainesville. It debuted in 2016.
Now, it is poised to join Alpha Media’s KBFF-FM “Live 95.5” in Portland, Ore., as a RadioGPT pioneer.
As previously reported, RadioGPT uses Futuri’s TopicPulse system to scan Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and more than 250,000 other sources of news and information to identify which topics are trending in a local market. It then uses GPT-4 technology to develop a script and AI voice to create audio for on-air and on-demand use. It also generates social posts, blogs and other content for digital platforms related to the content on the air in real-time.
In this implementation, GHQ will use the technology to create “Q,” an AI personality to develop and read scripts with hourly updates on weather, events and other news around Gainesville.
The content will be provided by GHQ staff; “Q” will enhance for broadcasting. As part of their R&D partnership, UFCJC and Futuri will analyze how effective the technology is in connecting with the radio station’s audience. “The research and development effort will help the radio industry develop best practices in the effective and ethical use of AI in their operations,” says Futuri.
Randy Wright, Executive Director of the College’s Division of Media Properties, comments, “Our ongoing partnership with Futuri Media is more important than ever with the pace at which AI is becoming a relevant part of the broadcast industry. Because we operate in both the public and commercial broadcast spaces, we’re able create real-world test scenarios with Futuri in our media operations and provide students with hands-on experience working with the latest technology and AI applications.”
Futuri CEO Daniel Anstandig adds, “Innovation is at the core of everything we do at Futuri, and we value our long-standing R&D partnership with the innovators at the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications. By being early adopters of artificial intelligence, the UFCJC team is providing their students a crucial advantage as they prepare to enter the rapidly evolving media industry.”
