Chinese News Agency Adds AI Anchors To Its Broadcast Team

Two AI anchors are joining China's state-run news agency Xinhua. 'The two anchors, one that speaks in English and another in Chinese, have the likeness of some of Xinhua's human anchors, but their voices, facial expressions and mouth movements are synthesized and animated using deep learning techniques,' reports Engadget. From the report: 'AI anchors have officially become members of the Xinhua News Agency reporting team,' the agency said. 'They will work with other anchors to bring you authoritative, timely and accurate news information in both Chinese and English.' China's South China Morning Post reports that the AI anchors are available through Xinhua's English and Chinese apps, its TV webpage and its WeChat public account. The technology behind the anchors is being provided by search engine company Sogou.

Xinhua says its AI anchors can deliver the news with the 'same effect' as that of human reporters. But if you watch the video, that isn't exactly true. It's pretty clear you're watching a non-human anchor as the mouth movements and facial expressions aren't quite human-like, and the voice can come off as a little robotic.

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