DD Kisan, a Doordarshan channel dedicated to sharing news and information for the country's farmers, will embrace the artificial intelligence (AI) wave as it prepares to bring two AI anchors to the channel. The move will make it India's first government television channel to feature AI-powered digital human replicants to present news and information. AI anchors are being introduced on the occasion of completion of nine years of DD Kisan since its inception. Notably, the channel was launched on May 26, 2015.
DD Kisan AI new anchors
According to a press release from the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, the two new AI anchors have been named AI Krish and AI Bhoomi. The duo will make their first appearance on DD Kisan on Sunday as the channel celebrates its ninth anniversary. These anchors can speak fifty Indian and foreign languages, according to the ministry.
The ministry introduced AI anchors as computers that can look and act like humans. He further added that AI Krish and AI Bhoomi can read the news 24 hours and 365 days without taking a break or getting tired. Notably, DD Kisan is a pan-India channel that broadcasts to different states of the country in their regional language.
The channel shares news and information on the latest national and global agricultural research, trends in agriculture mandis, changes in weather and information related to government programs. Some of the popular shows on the channel include Krishi Darshan, Mandi Khabar, Mausam Khabar and Chaupal Charcha.
What are AI Anchors?
AI anchors are essentially computer-generated digital avatars that look like humans. These avatars are powered by different AI technologies that allow them to have text-to-speech generation capabilities and also allow them to synchronize their lip, eye, head and hand movements with the words being spoken.
Rise of AI anchors in India
India witnessed its first AI anchor in early 2023 when India Today Group introduced Sana for its Aaj Tak channel. After her debut, Orissa-based OTV introduced Lisa, an AI-powered news anchor. Karnataka's Power TV also launched anchor AI Soundarya last year. Later India Today announced five more AI anchors for its regional language channels.
However, India is not among the first to introduce this technology. China became the first country to introduce an AI news anchor in 2018 when Xinhua News Agency launched two synthetic AI anchors.
