AI in the Newsroom: The Dawn of a New Broadcasting Era in the Philippines

 

The 2025 Reuters Institute Digital News Report has shed light on how audiences around the world view artificial intelligence (AI) in news production. The verdict? People are cautiously optimistic — open to the idea of AI, but only when it helps human journalists, not replaces them.

According to the report, readers are most interested in using AI to make news easier and faster to consume. The top uses include summarized versions of news articles (27%) and automatic translations (24%). This shows a clear preference for AI as a supportive tool, not a takeover mechanism.

Interestingly, this global shift aligns perfectly with a bold move happening right here in the Philippines. The Presidential Broadcast Service - Bureau of Broadcast Services (PBS-BBS) has officially introduced Aivan and Aira, the country’s first AI-powered government news reporters.

Meet Aivan and Aira: The New Voices of Philippine Government Media

These AI reporters were created to help broadcast government news with greater speed, consistency, and accuracy - a step toward using technology to make public information, from programs to policies, more accessible to every Filipino.

Aivan and Aira now headline AI Talks with The VoiceMaster, a pioneering radio program on Radyo Pilipinas airing every Saturday. Their mission: deliver fast, factual, and bias-free news to the public.

PBS-BBS Director General Fernando Amparo Sanga explained in an interview with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) that AI can help government media keep up with the demands of today’s fast-paced digital landscape.

“AI helps deliver content faster so we can adapt to people’s growing demand for more digital content,” said Sanga. “Whoever gets the first video or visual out there gets the audience’s attention.”

A Human-AI Partnership Built on Trust and Accountability

The PBS-BBS partnership with Pocholo De Leon Gonzales, widely known as The VoiceMaster of the Philippines and the Godfather of Filipino AI Voices, gave birth to this groundbreaking initiative. Gonzales also serves as the producer and host of AI Talks with The VoiceMaster and is behind the creation of Aivan and Aira.

“This isn’t just a radio show - it’s a revolution in how news and knowledge are delivered,” Gonzales told the Philippine News Agency. “Balitang AI, the world’s first AI-animated news reporter, proves that Filipinos can be pioneers, not just followers.”

Director Sanga emphasized that while AI handles the delivery, human journalists remain at the heart of content creation and verification. All AI-read scripts undergo the same strict editorial process as any government news release.

“We’ll be very strict in implementing AI reporting protocols. Every piece of content still goes through the same vetting process done by our newsroom,” he clarified.

Aivan and Aira will never express personal opinions -  their sole function is to deliver facts. “AI reporters won’t editorialize. They will only read verified facts written by journalists,” Sanga added. “This ensures the information remains objective and accurate.”

AI Is Not Here to Replace — It’s Here to Enhance

The partnership between PBS-BBS and Gonzales is grounded in one simple belief: AI is a tool for innovation, not a threat to jobs.

“AI is here to partner with humans, not replace them,” said Sanga. “That’s why through this radio program, we want to demystify AI and help ordinary Filipinos appreciate its benefits.”

Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Dave Gomez echoed the same message, reminding communicators to use AI responsibly.

“Use AI to improve efficiency, but never lose the human touch. Empathy and judgment can’t be replaced by any algorithm,” Gomez emphasized. He also pointed out that while AI can be a powerful tool for analysis, monitoring, and production, it can never replace authenticity and emotional connection in communication.

A Vision for the Future: Empowerment Through Innovation

The Marcos administration continues to champion digitalization across government sectors — from improving internet connectivity to developing smart applications that make public services easier to access. In line with this, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has announced plans to develop a national AI engine designed to assist Filipinos in gathering information and reporting crimes, with multi-language support in local dialects.

As AI becomes more integrated into news and governance, the message is clear: the future of work isn’t about replacement but enhancement. When technology and human creativity work hand in hand, the result is faster, smarter, and more inclusive communication — the kind that empowers citizens rather than alienates them.

With Aivan, Aira, and the visionary leadership of the PBS-BBS and The VoiceMaster, the Philippines is taking a confident step into a new era of broadcasting - one where human passion meets machine precision, and where every Filipino can hear the future, loud and clear.

“AI TALKS WITH THE VOICEMASTER” HONORED AS ASIA’S MOST INNOVATIVE AI PROGRAM ON RADIO AND SPOTIFY AT THE ASIA’S PINNACLE AWARDS 2025

https://www.facebook.com/Ai.TalksPH?locale=zh_CN

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