A radio station in Poland has sparked outrage following its decision to fire several journalists and replace them with AI presenters who conduct interviews with dead people using AI-generated responses.
OFF Radio Kraków launched the radical experiment this week, using a controversial AI-driven format to speak with high-profile guests from the past.
Its first broadcast on Tuesday included an “interview” with the late Nobel laureate Wiesława Szymborska which used a computer-generated voice to mimic her speaking style as it discussed this year’s Nobel Prize in Literature.
Although the poet’s foundation granted permission for the project, believing it would promote Szymborska’s work and attract new readers, the execution has incited fans and critics alike with many arguing the approach disrespects the poet’s legacy and undermines the integrity of journalism.
Marcin Pulit, the public official responsible for overseeing the station’s transition to AI, defended the initiative, stating, “This is a research and media experiment meant to explore the future impact of artificial intelligence on media, journalism, and culture.” However, the decision to conduct interviews with figures who can no longer speak for themselves has raised ethical concerns.
Numerous listeners took to social media to express their discontent. One prominent journalist, Rober Feluś, voiced his frustration, saying, “And so ends my beloved profession. Who’s next for the interview? Piłsudski? But why limit yourself to more recent history? Let Mieszko I talk about the baptism of Poland on Radio Kraków,” referencing the former Duke of Poland who died in 992 AD.
“Can I ask for an interview with [17th-century King of Poland] Jan III Sobieski about why it is worth paying an RTV license fee?” quipped journalist Patryk Słowik.
The comments highlighted the absurdity of AI impersonating historical figures, furthering the argument that this trend could lead to a dangerous precedent in media.
Moreover, critics from the literary community were quick to condemn the project. Renowned playwright and author Remigiusz Grzela stated, “What Szymborska’s bot says simply ridicules our Nobel Prize winner herself. We got a bland, although ‘but I can be liked’ journalist without personality, responsibility, spark, and intelligence.”
He expressed deep concern that the AI-generated interview undermined the depth and complexity that Szymborska represented, calling the whole endeavor a “complete disgrace and civic failure.”
Criticism also came from OFF Radio Kraków’s advisory board, which expressed its disapproval, stating it was “appalled” by the station’s new direction.
In a statement, the board added that it would “strongly oppose any actions that undermine the achievements and cultural heritage of the Kraków station.”
Former OFF Radio Kraków host Mateusz Demski remarked, “This use of artificial intelligence is a dangerous step that could lead to significant harm,” emphasizing the need for responsible practices in the media landscape.
