Sydney Station Confirms Use of AI Radio Personality

Sydney’s CADA 96.1 FM radio station, owned by the Australian Radio Network (ARN), faced significant backlash after it was revealed that its show Workdays with Thy, airing weekdays from 11 AM to 3 PM, was hosted by an AI-generated persona named “Thy” for six months without listener disclosure. The controversy, which surfaced in April 2025, sparked debates about transparency, ethics, and diversity in media.

“Thy” was presented as a real human host, with promotional materials featuring a single image of a young Asian woman and a show description encouraging listeners to engage with her for a “vibe” to lift their mood. The show, which began in November 2024, played hip-hop, R&B, and pop, reaching an estimated 72,000 listeners based on March 2025 ratings.

Thy was created using ElevenLabs, a generative AI audio platform that converts text into lifelike speech. Her voice and likeness were modeled after a real ARN employee from the finance department, though it’s unclear if the employee was compensated or fully consented to the use of her identity.

Journalist Stephanie Coombes raised suspicions in her newsletter The Carpet after noting Thy’s lack of a last name, biography, social media presence, or any public footprint beyond a single photo on CADA’s website. Her investigation revealed identical voice patterns in phrases like “old school,” confirming Thy was AI-generated.

Teresa Lim, Vice President of the Australian Association of Voice Actors, called the deception “extremely disappointing,” emphasizing that “authenticity and truth are so important for broadcast media.” She advocated for mandatory AI labeling to prevent unregulated AI voices dominating airwaves.

ARN confirmed Thy was an AI experiment, with a spokesperson stating they were “trialling AI audio tools” to explore how new technology could “enhance the listener experience.” They claimed the trial provided “valuable insights” but also “reinforced the power of real personalities in driving compelling content.”