KUALA LUMPUR : His face resembles that of a Korean man, although he may not be as attractive as a K-pop artist. However, his unique ability to deliver informative and engaging short news captures attention. This individual is named Joon.

Joon speaks Malay, English, Spanish, Mandarin, French, and Arabic. In fact, there are many more languages in this world that he can speak.

Joon delivers a news report in Bahasa Melayu during AWANI 7:45 news broadcast produced by Astro AWANI, alongside journalist and news presenter Nailah Huda.

His delivery is smooth, although he doesn't appear to be a native speaker compared to Nailah.

In reality, only a few individuals are aware that Joon is not a human but rather an Artificial Intelligence (AI) avatar specifically created to deliver news with exceptional fluency.



Following the broadcast of AWANI 7:45, another female anchor makes an appearance on the Agenda AWANI talk show at 8:30 PM on the same day.

Named Monica, this woman with a Scandinavian appearance joins the Agenda AWANI discussion to provide information regarding the future of work.

Just like Joon, Monica's presence on Astro AWANI's channel 501 on television screens, the live stream on www.astroawani.com TV, and all Astro AWANI social media platforms, including TikTok, adds a new element of to the discussion.



However, these brief moments, lasting less than three minutes, that appear on AWANI 7:45, Agenda AWANI, and AWANI Tonight provide an indication that the influence of the 'Generative AI' wave on newsroom operations has commenced.

According to Astro AWANI's Editor-in-Chief, Ashwad Ismail, this development holds significant importance as it offers us a glimpse into the future and prompts us to prepare accordingly.

"Joon and Monica are the result of the synergy between two aspects: generative AI technology and professional journalism practices.

"The presence of Joon and Monica is not intended to challenge or replace existing talents. Instead, the technology aims to enhance and strengthen the quality of human individuals and the products they create," stated Ashwad.

He further emphasized that Astro AWANI, being the leading news and future affairs channel in Malaysia, consistently striving to utilize technology in providing well-rounded and constructive information, as well as conducting talk shows, dialogues, and debates.

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Will journalists be replaced by AI?

The question of whether AI will replace journalists is a complex one. While a study by the World Economic Forum (WEF) found that certain jobs such as bank clerks, postal clerks, and data clerks may easily be replaced by AI, the field of journalism requires human involvement to ensure that journalistic quality and ethics are prioritized.

Astro AWANI's 'Multiformat News Innovation' unit conducted a survey that found that AI technology can expedite certain tasks compared to traditional methods, but it still requires the involvement of human journalists to ensure that the information presented is accurate, balanced, and ethical.

The waves of change resulting from the explosion of technology will continue to impact humans across sectors and industries.

The question then becomes: how quickly can we master a particular field of knowledge?

It is not just about accepting technology as users, but also about cultivating a determined and philosophical mindset that allows us to become 'changemakers' who contribute to the progress and dignity of humanity as qualified stewards of the Earth.