Channel 4’s Dispatches has claimed to be the first British television programme to use an artificial intelligence presenter. The episode Will AI Take My Job? Dispatches, broadcast on Monday evening, explored how AI automation is reshaping workplaces across sectors including law, music, fashion and medicine, and ended with the reveal that its presenter, Aisha Gaban, was entirely AI-generated.

The AI presenter spoke: “AI is going to touch everybody’s lives in the next few years. And for some, it will take their jobs. Call centre workers? Customer service agents? Maybe even TV presenters like me. Because I’m not real. In a British TV first, I’m an AI presenter. Some of you might have guessed: I don’t exist, I wasn’t on location reporting this story. My image and voice were generated using AI.” The programme highlighted that nearly three quarters of UK bosses have already introduced AI into tasks once carried out by humans, and said the stunt was designed to prompt discussion about trust and authenticity in the digital age, with the broadcaster stating it will not use AI presenters regularly.

Louisa Compton, head of news and current affairs, specialist factual and sport at Channel 4, said: “The use of an AI presenter is not something we will be making a habit of at Channel 4 – instead our focus in news and current affairs is on premium, fact checked, duly impartial and trusted journalism – something AI is not capable of doing. But this stunt does serve as a useful reminder of just how disruptive AI has the potential to be – and how easy it is to hoodwink audiences with content they have no way of verifying.” The AI anchor was produced by AI fashion brand Seraphinne Vallora for Kalel Productions, using prompts to create a digital human capable of delivering on-camera performances. The programme is available to stream on Channel4.com.