How long did an Australian radio station use an AI host with no one noticing?

A radio station in Australia has been using an AI-generated DJ to host one of its shows for months, and no one noticed. Workdays with Thy, which is broadcast on the CADA radio station in Sydney, brings listeners a four-hour mix including hip hop, R&B and pop.

According to CADA owner ARN Media, the voice and likeness of Thy were modeled after a real employee in the financial department. ElevenLabs, an AI voice generator, was used to create the voice of Thy. But neither the show nor CADA’s website disclose that Thy is an AI-generated voice. According to the Australian Financial Review, the show has been available on CADA’s website since November 2024 and ratings state it “reaches at least 72,000 people.”

Regardless of the show’s success, many are concerned about the lack of disclosure about the use of AI. “Australian listeners deserve honesty and upfront disclosure instead of a lack of transparency leading them to trust a fake person they think is a real on-air person,” said Teresa Lim, the vice president of the Australian Association of Voice Actors.

“We’re trying to understand what’s real and what’s not,” said ARN CEO Ciaran Davis to the Financial Review. “What we’ve learned is the power of the announcers we have.”