In a striking revelation, Sydney-based radio station CADA, owned by the Australian Radio Network (ARN), has admitted to broadcasting a daily four-hour show hosted by an AI-generated persona named “Thy” for six months without informing its listeners. The program, “Workdays with Thy,” aired from November 2024 to April 2025, featuring a cheerful and confident voice that introduced tracks and provided music commentary. Listeners were led to believe that Thy was a real person, as there was no disclosure about her artificial nature on the show or the station’s website.

Suspicion arose when Sydney-based writer Stephanie Coombes questioned Thy’s identity in a blog post, noting the absence of a last name, biography, or social media presence. Further scrutiny revealed that certain phrases, like “old school,” sounded identical across different broadcasts, indicating the use of pre-recorded or synthesized speech.

Following public inquiry, ARN confirmed that Thy was an AI-generated voice created in collaboration with voice-cloning firm ElevenLabs, modeled after an actual ARN employee. Project leader Fayed Tohme described the initiative as an experiment to explore the capabilities of AI in broadcasting.

The revelation sparked significant backlash from listeners and industry professionals. Teresa Lim, vice president of the Australian Association of Voice Actors, criticized the lack of transparency, stating, “Authenticity and truth are important for broadcast media. The public deserves to know the source of what’s being broadcast.”

While there are currently no laws in Australia requiring radio stations to disclose the use of AI, the incident has ignited discussions about the ethical implications of AI in media. Critics argue that undisclosed AI use undermines listener trust and raises concerns about job displacement in the broadcasting industry.

In response to the controversy, ARN stated that the trial provided valuable insights but reinforced the unique value that human personalities bring to radio. The station emphasized its commitment to authenticity and indicated that it does not plan to replace human hosts with AI in the future.

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