LONDON: A multilingual AI lookalike of Asharq News anchor Hadil Eleyan has been debuted by the channel on air.
The AI version of the Saudi-based channel’s anchor can speak languages including Russian, Spanish and Mandarin during live broadcasts.
The multi-platform Arabic news channel unveiled the service during its Monday evening show, “Colours of the East.”
Steven Cheak, director of creative services at Asharq News, described the AI presenter as a “symbiotic relationship between artificial intelligence and human ingenuity.”
AI should enhance human productivity rather than replace it, he added.
The AI-generated lookalike — which Eleyan interacted with — presented the segment in a range of languages, showcasing the cutting edge of AI technologies.
A clip of the segment posted online garnered more than 1 million views on social media.
Nabeel Alkhatib, Asharq News general manager, said that the network is committed to innovation, including incorporating AI into newsrooms to boost efficiency and creativity in editorial processes.
Asharq News aims to provide a seamless and engaging experience for its Arabic-speaking viewers through the use of innovative technology and digital strategies, he added.
This includes cutting-edge graphics, augmented reality and virtual reality systems, all aimed at enriching the network’s visual storytelling capabilities.
