Sydney Radio Station’s Secret AI DJ Sparks Debate Over Transparency in Australian Broadcasting
Image Source: CADA
CADA, a Sydney radio station owned by ARN Media, ran a weekday show from November 2024 to April 2025 with an AI-generated host named “Thy”, without telling listeners she was not a real person. Thy’s voice was modelled after an ARN finance department employee using ElevenLabs’ voice-cloning technology.
Discovery and Confirmation
Journalist Stephanie Coombes highlighted the lack of information about Thy, writing in her newsletter The Carpet:
“What’s Thy’s last name? Who is she? Where did she come from? There is no biography or further information about the woman who is supposedly presenting this show”.
After questions were raised, ARN confirmed to the Australian Financial Review:
“We’ve been trialling AI audio tools on CADA using the voice of Thy — an ARN team member. This is a space being explored by broadcasters globally, and while the trial has offered valuable insights, it’s also reinforced the unique value that personalities bring to creating truly compelling content”.
Industry and Public Reaction
The lack of transparency drew criticism from listeners and industry professionals. Teresa Lim, Vice President of the Australian Association of Voice Actors, said:
“Authenticity and truth are so important for broadcast media. The public deserves to know what the source is of what's being broadcast”.
She also raised concerns about representation:
“There are a limited number of Asian-Australian female presenters who are available for the job, so just give it to one of them. Don’t take that opportunity away from a minority group who’s already struggling”.
Regulatory Gaps Highlighted
Australia’s media regulator, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), currently does not require disclosure of AI use in broadcasting. The incident has renewed calls for clearer rules and ethical standards as AI technology becomes more common in media.
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