Srinagar, Oct 26(KNS): A radio station in Poland has sparked headlines after firing its journalists and relaunching with AI-generated "presenters". OFF Radio Krakow, based in the southern city of Krakow, recently introduced what it called "the first experiment in Poland" where virtual characters created by AI serve as journalists, CNN reported. 

The station said its three AI avatars aim to engage younger audiences by discussing cultural, art, and social topics, including LGBTQ+ issues. In a statement, station head Marcin Pulit questioned whether AI is "an opportunity or a threat to media, radio, and journalism," promising to explore the issue further.

The move drew widespread attention after former host Mateusz Demski, a journalist and film critic, published an open letter condemning the replacement of human employees with AI.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelDemski, who had been with the station since February 2022, argued that the decision sets a "dangerous precedent" that threatens jobs in the media and creative industries. His petition protesting the changes had garnered more than 15,000 signatures by Wednesday morning.

Despite the backlash, Pulit claimed the layoffs were due to low audience numbers, not AI. Krzysztof Gawkowski, Poland's minister of digital affairs, also weighed in, calling for regulations on AI, stating that AI's growth should benefit people, not harm them.(KNS).