iHeartMedia has launched nationwide “Guaranteed Human” campaign, declaring that all on-air hosts, podcast creators, and music played across its 860+ stations feature real human voices, not AI-generated personalities or synthetic vocalists.
The country’s largest radio broadcaster is requiring every air personality to say “Guaranteed Human” hourly alongside station call letters, a move first reported by the Los Angeles Times after it obtained an internal memo from Chief Programming Officer Tom Poleman. In the email, Poleman stated unequivocally: “We don’t use AI-generated personalities. We don’t play AI music that features synthetic vocalists pretending to be human. The podcasts we publish are also Guaranteed Human.”
The campaign is backed by new iHeart research showing overwhelming listener preference for human-created content:90% of listeners say it matters that the media they consume is made by real people.
- 9 in 10 believe human trust cannot be replicated by AI
- 80% consider their favorite radio hosts “friends.”
President of Insights Lainie Fertick framed the initiative as a response to an algorithm-heavy world: “People crave trust, authenticity, and experiences that feel human. Consumers aren’t just looking for content; they’re looking for connection.”
While iHeartMedia rejects AI hosts and AI vocals on air, Poleman confirmed the company continues using artificial intelligence behind the scenes for scheduling, show prep, editing, insights, and workflow automation, tools that support human talent rather than replace it.
The campaign lands amid broader industry upheaval, with Hollywood striking over AI likeness rights and synthetic influencers gaining millions of followers online. By planting its flag as “Guaranteed Human,” iHeartMedia is positioning live, local, human-hosted radio as the antidote to an increasingly artificial media landscape.