FTV unveils AI news anchor, launches naming campaign

FTV unveils AI news anchor, launches naming campaign

2023-06-28

Taiwan’s very first AI-generated news anchor debuted this Monday on FTV. The virtual newsreader made a splash with her flawless delivery of an international weather forecast. Viewers were surprised by how closely she resembled a real person. And now you have the chance to give her a name.

Her delivery is flawless, her face, compelling. This is Taiwan’s very first AI news anchor. On Monday, she made her eye-grabbing debut on FTV, reading international weather bulletins. The novelty was a sight for sore eyes.

Member of public
Normally an AI-generated video clip doesn’t feel like it’s a real person talking, but she didn’t give it away. There weren’t any glitches in her facial expressions. She’s actually quite realistic.

Member of public
If you hadn’t mentioned it, I wouldn’t have noticed she’s AI.

Member of public
She’s more attractive than a real person.

FTV’s newest anchor created a buzz with her appearance, intonation, and natural body movements. The audience gave rave reviews and clamored to see her do more programs in the future.

Member of public
Nowadays even idols are going virtual. This is quite a novelty.

Member of public
As long as the reporting is factual, and she can help the audience understand what the news is about, if what’s she’s saying is meaningful and broadens the audience’s perspective, then it doesn’t matter if she’s AI or a real person.

Shortly after her debut, FTV asked the audience to give her a name, igniting a flurry of online chatter. One user said to name her “The Eyes of Taiwan,” after FTV’s slogan. Another suggested a homophone of “Chai Trong-rong,” in a tribute to FTV’s founder. Another proposed “Niu Ssu-ai,” a play on the phrase “News AI.”

Anyone who has a name can submit it on FTV’s official website or Facebook page. The deadline for submissions is noon on June 29.

民視AI主播開放命名網友創意留言"蔡彤蓉"

2023-06-28

全台第一位AI科技主播，週一26日開始在民視新聞登場，負責播報國際氣象資訊，首次亮相後，不少民眾直呼和真人相似度極高，幾乎看不出是AI生成，也有人對她的亮麗外型留下深刻印象，而AI主播的命名活動，也引起熱烈討論，有網友發揮創意，說可以致敬創辦人蔡同榮，取名"蔡彤蓉"。

播起新聞有模有樣，擁有亮眼外型的全台第一位"AI科技"主播，26號正式在民視登場播報，專門提供國際氣象資訊，創新的呈現方式，讓觀眾眼睛為之一亮。

[[民眾]]
“一般AI的影片應該會比較不像真人說話，但她也沒有露出破綻，沒有表情上的飄移，真實度滿高的。”

[[民眾]]
“如果你沒有說，我可能不會注意到她是AI的。”

[[民眾]]
“她比真的人正。”

AI主播首次亮相，從外貌到說話語調，或是播報時身體的自然起伏，都讓觀眾留下深刻印象，除了給予正面評價，也期待未來能看到更多發揮。

[[民眾]]
“現在很多就連偶像也是邁入虛擬化人物，這是一個滿新奇的東西。”

[[民眾]]
“如果播報的是符合事實，然後還有能夠讓民眾真的了解到這個新聞在講什麼，就是如果真的有意義，讓大家的視野更廣闊，其實不管是AI或真人都沒有關係。”

而AI主播上場播報後，民視也邀請全國觀眾一起替她命名，立刻在網路上引起熱烈討論，有人留言，可以直接叫"台灣的眼睛"，還有人致敬民視創辦人"蔡同榮"，
以他姓名的同音字來命名，也有網友取NewsAi的諧音，說要叫她"鈕思愛"。

命名活動可透過民視官網，或社群平台參與，6/29中午12:00截止，AI主播要叫什麼名字?交給觀眾一起集思廣益。

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Tsai welcomes US delegation led by Representative Mike Rogers

President Tsai Ing-wen received a nine-member U.S. congressional delegation on Wednesday. The group was led by Mike Rogers, chairman of the U.S. House Armed Services Committee. In her remarks at the reception, Tsai thanked the armed services committee for its longstanding support for Taiwan, and for passing a 2024 defense bill with pro-Taiwan provisions. She said Taiwan will continue to work with the U.S. to safeguard the peace and stability of the Indo-Pacific region. This is what she said.

Tsai Ing-wen
President
All the members of the delegation pay close attention to developments in the international situation and the challenges facing liberal democracies. Serving on the Armed Services Committee, you have continued to protect the national security of the United States and its democratic allies through hearings, bills, resolutions, and other active steps. Here, I would like to thank the U.S. Congress for the longstanding and bipartisan attention it has shown to Taiwan’s security and for expressing support for Taiwan through concrete actions. Taiwan is on the front line of defense of democratic values. We will continue to work hand in hand with the U.S. in such areas as the economy and national defense to jointly safeguard the peace and stability of the Indo-Pacific region. I look forward to an in-depth discussion with you today on ways to develop even closer cooperation between Taiwan and the U.S.

Mike Rogers
US House Armed Services Committee chair
The United States and Taiwan have had a long and important friendship. Our shared commitment to the rule of law, democracy, and a free and open Indo-Pacific has only deepened that friendship. As you can see from the delegation with me today, our support for Taiwan is bipartisan and unwavering.

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Presidential contender Ko Wen-je has been in a war of words with the green camp, over whether to restart the Cross-Strait Service Trade Agreement. On Wednesday, KMT lawmakers joined the fray, declaring their support for the agreement.

Lai Shyh-bao
KMT lawmaker
A complete ECFA has to cover trade in both goods and services. That’s always been the position of the KMT. Ko Wen-je claimed that what he had opposed back then was the secretive negotiations, not the services treaty itself. But please, no matter what his reasons were – even if he opposed the treaty because of its procedural technicalities, he did still stand opposed to the treaty. Out of campaign considerations, he now wants to court KMT votes, so he’s switched to supporting the services treaty.

The KMT blasted Ko for flipping his stance to win votes. Meanwhile, the DPP spoke out against the treaty once again, saying Chinese capital must not be allowed to enter the Taiwan market.

Chuang Jui-hsiung
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What we’re all worried about is a price war. All these laundromats could go under, all these hair salons and other small businesses. Aren’t you all worried?

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What we’re even more opposed to is the blue camp and the white camp pushing Taiwan into the “one China” framework, forcing unification through economic ties.

The DPP took aim at both Ko and the KMT.

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During the Sunflower Student Movement, Ko Wen-je had really just appeared briefly at the scene to show his face. Actually everyone can see that Ko Wen-je is very good at short-term participation, he’s good at making short-term gains, at reaping what he can from the zeitgeist.

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