US – Billing itself as a world first, Portland, Oregon-based radio station Live 99.5 has given an AI-generated DJ a regular slot in its line-up. The station is part of Alpha Media, which owns and operates over 200 radio stations across the US.
Described as a ‘cloned human voice’, AI Ashley is a synthesised version of the station’s human DJ, Ashley Elzinga, and is powered by FuturiMedia’s RadioGPT. It has been created by using a script based on current news gathered from digital outlets and social media platforms for AI Ashley to read.
‘It’s a hybrid situation where we’ll have traditional Ashley on during some segments, and we’ll have AI Ashley on during other segments,’ Phil Becker, executive vice-president of content at Alpha Media told TechCrunch.
Opinions on the development have been mixed, with those seeing it as a signal that AI will be taking over more jobs, while the station itself is taking a more positive and optimistic view in that the AI Ashley will actually help ‘multiply’ Elzinga’s broadcasting potential. ‘In an instance where AI Ashley would be broadcasting, the traditional Ashley might be doing something in the community, managing social posts or working on digital assets or the other elements that come with the job,’ said Becker.
Our AI series continues to track and analyse the significant shifts that AI is instigating across the consumer and lifestyle industries.
Spotify AI DJ, US
Dominique Crenn for Upside Foods, US
US – Lab-grown chicken, produced entirely from animal cells, made its debut at a San Francisco restaurant in July 2023. Manufactured by Upside Foods and Good Meat, which received recent approval from the US Food and Drug Administration and the US Department of Agriculture, the cultivated chicken was served to winners of a social media contest at Bar Crenn. The chicken was prepared in a tempura batter, accompanied by a burnt chilli aioli, greens and edible flowers, all presented in a black ceramic dish.
Lab-grown meat producers aim to reduce the environmental impact of the traditional meat industry and provide an alternative for individuals concerned about the ethical treatment and killing of animals. But the cultivated meat is not technically vegetarian or vegan.
‘It’s the first time meat has made it back on my menu since 2018, because Upside chicken is the first meat that I feel good about serving,’ said Michelin-starred chef Dominique Crenn. She called Upside a ‘significant step towards a more sustainable and compassionate food system’.
The cultivated chicken has yet to become a regular menu item at Bar Crenn, but it will be featured in other monthly events throughout the year.
In our Adaptive Appetites macrotrend, we previously analysed how, as inflation and supply chain fragility send food and drink prices soaring, consumers and companies are adapting rapidly and embracing frugality, innovation and indulgence.
