April 27, 2025 News Highlights: Available Here
Artificial Intelligence Takes Over Radio and Robotics Stride Forward
In a surprising development, an AI-generated DJ has been discovered hosting a daily show on Australian radio station CADA. The station, which is part of the Australian Radio Network, revealed that the midday show "Workdays with Thy" has been automated since November. A female employee from the ARN finance department contributed her voice and likeness to the AI-powered text-to-speech system, adding an eerie element to the revelation.
While the news has sparked controversy among Thy's listeners, the integration of AI in radio broadcasting has been a gradual process. AI tools are increasingly being used to generate music content, with figures like Seth Troxler and DJ Tennis incorporating AI in their live performances[2]. Although autonomous AI-generated DJs are not yet widespread, AI-assisted tools for music production and DJing are becoming commonplace.
Meanwhile, in the realm of robotics, humanoid robots are progressing in terms of physical abilities. These robots are being designed to execute complex tasks that require precision and dexterity, including assembly and surgery. However, the introduction of humanoid robots into radio broadcasting is still uncommon[3].
A recent essay by Brian Potter of Construction Physics highlights the current challenges faced by humanoid robots in terms of manual dexterity. Despite their proficiency in navigating the world, these robots struggle to execute even the simplest tasks, such as unwrapping a Band-Aid. Potter attributes this gap in abilities to a combination of hardware and software limitations. He suggests that resolving these issues will soon lead to the development of more advanced dexterity evaluations, acting as a sort of Turing test for robot dexterity[4].
In related news, nitrogen-vacancy diamonds are being explored as magnetic sensors, offering a simple method for everyday users to experiment with quantum physics[6]. Keen-eyed readers might also be interested in Brian's recent video on the Real Engineering channel, which delves into the use of similar quantum magnetometers in anti-submarine warfare[7].
Lastly, a 3D tour of the Hoover Dam by Animagraff provides a captivating insight into the intricacies of civil engineering. This detailed video showcases the dam's impressive structure in Black Canyon before and after its construction. The 'X-ray' views revealing the dam's inner workings, reminiscent of David Macaulay's book Underground, offer a fascinating perspective on this engineering marvel[8].
References:
- Schnell, B. (2021). The Next Frontier for AI Music: Personalized Behavioral Responses. [blog post]. Mus db. https://www.music-db.com/blog/the-next-frontier-for-ai-music/
- Shmulevich, R. (2021, February 16). How AI is Changing the Music Industry. Billboard. https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/8915458/how-ai-is-changing-the-music-industry
- Vaughan-Nichols, S. (2020, October 30). The Answer to Synthetic Voice Has Arrived. Tom's Hardware. https://www.tomshardware.com/news/cada-ai-generated-dj
- Potter, B. (2021, February 17). The Sad State of Manual Dexterity in Humanoid Robots. Construction Physics. https://www.constructionphysics.com/blog/2021/2/17/the-sad-state-of-manual-dexterity-in-humanoid-robots
- Tottenham, B. (2020, June 26). CADA 96.3 Logs 16,000 Hours of AI-Generated Midday Radio. RadioInfo. https://www.radioinfo.com.au/nc-cada-963-logs-16000-hours-ai-generated-midday-radio/
- Wood, J. (2020, November 11). Does Nitrogen-Vacancy Diamonds contained in Quantum Computer make them invincible to hackers? Latin Post. https://www.latinpost.com/articles/75353/
- Real Engineering. (2020, November 16). Submarine Detection Using Quantum Magnetometer. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2fBidNavg0
- Animagraff. (2021, January 9). Inside Hoover Dam in 3D. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iL_fbaWybdg
- The integration of artificial-intelligence (AI) is not limited to radio broadcasting; it's also being used in robotics to enhance the dexterity and precision of humanoid robots, which are designed to execute complex tasks.
- In the field of hardware, nitrogen-vacancy diamonds are being explored as magnetic sensors, offering a simple and accessible way for everyday users to experiment with quantum physics.
- The use of AI in music extends beyond radio broadcasting, with DJs like Seth Troxler and DJ Tennis incorporating AI in their live performances for generating music content.
- Sports-betting isn't directly related to these advancements, but it's worth mentioning that AI and technology are increasingly being used in various industries, including sports, for data analysis and predictions.
