6:47 pm - April 29, 2025
The Hawaiian newspaper has discontinued its AI news hosts, James and Rose, after two months due to viewer complaints over their monotone delivery and strange behaviours.
The Garden Island newspaper in Hawaii has announced the discontinuation of its AI host bots, James and Rose, after only two months of operation as news presenters.
The decision to terminate the AI bots followed widespread viewer criticism regarding their performance, which was powered by technology from the Israeli firm Caledo. Audiences found the hosts’ speech patterns unnaturally monotone and their non-verbal cues unnerving. Reports indicated that James and Rose delivered news with a singular tone, lacking the emotional inflection often expected in journalism.
Viewers commented on the bots’ peculiar behaviours, which included mispronouncing Hawaiian names and failing to blink. This unusual presentation style led to various complaints, particularly on social media platforms such as Instagram, where nearly every video involving the AI reporters garnered negative feedback.
Guthrie Scrymgor, a former employee of The Garden Island, expressed relief at the bots’ departure, acknowledging the challenges faced by human journalists in a rapidly evolving media landscape. “I don’t like rooting against my fellow reporters, but I admit, I was glad to see them go,” he stated. Scrymgor extended an ironic wish for the bots’ future success in the job market, underscoring the tension between advancing technology and traditional roles within the industry.
The trial of James and Rose also raises questions about the future of AI in journalism. Many in the news publishing sector are examining the potential of AI tools in areas such as content automation, predictive analytics, and editing. While AI has the capability to enhance efficiency and manage basic reporting tasks, the experience with the bots at The Garden Island serves as a reminder of the limitations of current technology when applied to complex, human-centric activities like news broadcasting.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://technext24.com/2024/11/22/ai-bots-sacked-after-2-month-human-error/ – Corroborates the termination of AI bots James and Rose after two months due to negative public response and their inability to comprehend human emotions and nuances.
- https://futurism.com/the-byte/newspaper-fires-two-ai-reporters-bizarre-behavior – Supports the decision to fire the AI bots due to their bizarre and monotonous line deliveries, mispronunciation of Hawaiian names, and other peculiar behaviors.
- https://startupsvibes.com/2-ai-bots-fired-after-replacing-reporters-at-media-house-for-just-2-months/ – Confirms the development of the AI bots by the Israeli company Caledo and their short-lived tenure at The Garden Island.
- https://blog.systmadeinc.com/the-ai-reporter-who-stole-my-old-job-has-been-fired/ – Provides additional context on the termination of the AI bots and the negative reception from the public.
- https://staging.theoutpost.ai/news-story/ai-news-anchors-fired-after-failed-experiment-at-hawaiian-newspaper-8939/ – Details the negative public response and the reasons behind the termination of the AI-powered news anchors.
- https://technext24.com/2024/11/22/ai-bots-sacked-after-2-month-human-error/ – Highlights Guthrie Scrimegour’s comments on the bots’ departure and the challenges faced by human journalists in the evolving media landscape.
- https://futurism.com/the-byte/newspaper-fires-two-ai-reporters-bizarre-behavior – Discusses the broader implications of AI in journalism, including the potential benefits and drawbacks of using AI tools in content creation.
- https://startupsvibes.com/2-ai-bots-fired-after-replacing-reporters-at-media-house-for-just-2-months/ – Mentions the role of Caledo in developing the AI technology and their plans to expand it to other newspapers despite the failure at The Garden Island.
- https://blog.systmadeinc.com/the-ai-reporter-who-stole-my-old-job-has-been-fired/ – Corroborates the public’s negative feedback on social media platforms, particularly on Instagram, regarding the AI reporters’ performance.
- https://staging.theoutpost.ai/news-story/ai-news-anchors-fired-after-failed-experiment-at-hawaiian-newspaper-8939/ – Supports the idea that the trial of James and Rose raises questions about the future of AI in journalism and the balance between automation and human insights.
- https://futurism.com/the-byte/newspaper-fires-two-ai-reporters-bizarre-behavior – Details the specific issues with the AI bots, such as their inability to blink and their glitching hands, which contributed to their termination.
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