Celebrating National Broadcasting Day in the Age of AI
By Aditya Negi
Every year, July 23 marks National Broadcasting Day in India—a day that commemorates the historic moment in 1927 when radio broadcasting began under the Indian Broadcasting Company in Bombay. It later evolved into All India Radio (AIR) in 1936, becoming a unifying voice for the nation. From the crackling sounds of the first radio transmissions to the vibrant FM era and now the digital age, broadcasting has shaped our society. But in 2025, as we celebrate this day, one question stands out:
What does broadcasting mean in the age of Artificial Intelligence (AI)?
Today, AI is transforming broadcasting in unprecedented ways. AI-driven tools can generate news scripts, create synthetic voices, produce videos, and even present news bulletins through virtual anchors. In fact Doordarshan, specifically in its agricultural channel DD Kisan, has introduced AI news presenters named AI Krish and AI Bhoomi. They are the first AI anchors to be used by an Indian government-run TV channel. These AI anchors are designed to deliver news 24/7, mimicking human presenters and are capable of handling multilingual broadcasts.
Tech pioneer SundarPichai aptly said, “AI is more profound than electricity or fire.” AI is transforming broadcasting by enhancing efficiency, personalization, and accessibility. AI-driven systems can automate news delivery through virtual presenters, generate real-time captions, translate content into multiple languages, and tailor broadcasts to individual viewer preferences. These technologies enable 24/7 news coverage, faster content production, and improved accessibility for people with disabilities, such as those with hearing impairments. By analyzing viewer data, AI can also help broadcasters deliver more relevant and engaging content, making the overall media experience more inclusive and dynamic.
The Double-Edged Sword
However, with opportunity comes risk. Deepfakes, misinformation, and algorithmic bias threaten to erode the credibility that traditional broadcasting built over decades. As journalist Christiane Amanpour warns, “Trust is everything. If we lose that, we lose the whole game.” This is the real challenge in an AI-driven media ecosystem. AI-generated content can lack the human touch, emotional nuance, and ethical judgment that professional journalists provide. There’s also a risk of spreading misinformation if AI systems misinterpret data or manipulate it. Additionally, over-reliance on automation could lead to job losses in traditional media roles. Biases in AI algorithms may further result in unfair or unbalanced reporting, raising concerns about trust, transparency, and accountability in news delivery.
A Future of Co-existence
AI is not a replacement for human creativity; it is an enhancement. The future lies in collaboration between human judgment and machine efficiency. As Tim Cook said, “Technology should serve humanity, not the other way around.” Broadcasting must adapt, as it always has—from shortwave radio to digital platforms—but its soul must remain rooted in truth and trust. The convergence and coexistence of AI and broadcasting represent a transformative shift in the media landscape, blending human creativity with machine efficiency. AI enhances traditional broadcasting by automating tasks like scripting, editing, and translation, while also enabling real-time personalization and accessibility features such as captions and sign language avatars.
The author is a PhD scholar at CUJ
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