Black Eyed Peas frontman Will.i.am has unveiled a revolutionary new radio platform called RAiDiO.FYI, featuring AI-powered hosts.
This innovative service is designed to provide an interactive experience that allows listeners to interact directly with AI hosts, creating a dynamic and personalized radio experience.
According to the official website, the platform is said to aim to “recreate radio the way the iPhone did to phones.”
Unlike traditional radio or even recent AI-driven services like Spotify’s AI DJ, RAiDiO.FYI allows for two-way communication. Users can press a button at any time to talk directly to the AI characters, asking questions about the music, discussing the history of a song, or engaging in conversations about news, sports, culture, and fashion.
This feature converts listeners from passive to active participants, enhancing their connection to the content and overall user experience.
Will.i.am has been vocal about his views on artificial intelligence and its impact on the music industry. Last year, during an appearance on Sirius XM, he expressed concerns about the lack of ownership and rights over personal digital data, such as facial recognition and voice frequencies.
He questioned the implications of AI, saying, “It’s urgent, protecting our facial math. I am my facial math. I don’t own it.”
The launch of RAiDiO.FYI comes at a time when the role of AI in music is increasingly under fire. South Korean giant SM Entertainment recently announced the launch of its first AI-generated singer, nævis, while more than 200 artists, including Billie Eilish and Stevie Wonder, signed a letter warning against the “predatory” use of AI in music.
Prominent figures in the music industry have also weighed in on the debate. Timbaland has experimented with AI-generated music, while Snoop Dogg has criticized its use, particularly in AI covers.
Meanwhile, artists like Sting and Billy Corgan have voiced concerns about the potential for AI to undermine the value of human creativity in music.
Tags Black Eyed Peas, Will.i.am