Radio DJ on Air for Six Months – No One Knew She Was AI
For about six months, Sydney’s CADA radio station, owned by ARN Media, has been using an AI-generated host named “Thy” to present a weekday hip-hop segment—without disclosing that Thy is not a real person. Thy’s voice and likeness were cloned from a real ARN finance employee using the ElevenLabs platform. There are no legal requirements in Australia mandating AI disclosure in broadcasting, though the move has sparked ethical concerns.
The AI host has reportedly reached over 72,000 listeners, but the lack of transparency drew criticism, particularly from the Australian Association of Voice Actors, which called for clearer AI labelling laws. Voice actor Teresa Lim also pointed out the missed opportunity for real minority representation in Australian media, noting that an AI voice replaced what could’ve been a job for an underrepresented demographic.
While ARN defended the trial as a way to explore new technologies, it acknowledged that it reaffirmed the importance of real human personalities in radio. Regulatory bodies like ACMA say AI policy development is still ongoing, with transparency and safety guidelines under consideration for future enforcement.