In Venezuela, journalism has become a risky profession under the government’s heavy-handed control. The repressive environment has made it dangerous for reporters to share news critical of President Nicolás Maduro’s regime. However, an innovative solution has emerged: artificial intelligence (AI) news anchors. These AI avatars, created by media organizations, allow journalists to report the news without exposing their identities. The project, called Venezuela Retweets, aims to protect journalists while ensuring the public has access to verified news.
What’s Happening & Why This Matters
Following the contested re-election of Nicolás Maduro in July, Venezuela saw a sharp increase in government crackdowns on journalists. Reporters covering protests or criticizing the government faced serious risks, including imprisonment. To avoid these dangers, a group of Venezuelan media organizations launched Venezuela Retweets, an AI-powered news show featuring avatars instead of real people.
The AI presenters, named “The Girl” and “The Dude,” deliver news in both Spanish and English, summarizing daily stories without putting actual journalists in danger. According to Carlos Eduardo Huertas, a Colombian media operator who coordinated the project, the avatars act as a shield for reporters. The goal is not to replace journalists but to protect them from threats, such as detention or harassment.
In Venezuela, where traditional media is heavily monitored, AI news anchors provide a unique solution. While many parts of the world worry about AI taking over jobs, Venezuelan journalists view AI as a safeguard for their lives. The avatars are designed for social media platforms like Instagram and WhatsApp, making it difficult for the government to track them, adding an extra layer of security.
The country’s press freedom organization Espacio Publico reports that at least 16 journalists were detained after the election, with some facing charges like terrorism or incitement to hatred. Many journalists now work in pairs, memorize their lawyer’s contact information, and take extra safety measures, such as using encrypted apps like Signal. For these reporters, the AI avatars provide a level of safety that simply wasn’t available before.
Though AI news anchors are a creative solution, some experts doubt how effective they are in fully protecting journalists. Shelly Palmer, a professor specializing in media technology, suggests that using avatars may not be as secure as it seems, as digital footprints can still expose people to risks. However, the project continues to grow, with plans to translate content into languages like Russian and Chinese to reach broader audiences, especially in countries that are allies of the Venezuelan government.
TF Summary: What’s Next?
As the free speech issue in Venezuela remains unstable, AI avatars may continue to play a vital role in preserving freedom of the press. The technology allows journalists to keep informing the public without risking their safety. However, as the government cracks down, the tools the press utilizes need to be elusive and innovative tools to protect the journalists.
TF hypothesizes that, using AI in this context, may inspire similar approaches in other countries where press freedoms are under attack. AI can help protect truth-tellers worldwide.
— Text-to-Speech (TTS) provided by gspeech