RT Balkan has laid off around 30 media workers due to, among other reasons, the introduction of artificial intelligence.

“RT has always been a progressive company. We are currently implementing work optimization, including the introduction of artificial intelligence and other modern technologies, in order to meet contemporary standards and develop in step with the times,” responded the editor-in-chief of RT Balkan, Jelena Milinčić, to UNS's question regarding the reasons for employee layoffs and the termination of contracts with collaborators.

As another reason, Milinčić mentioned the reorganization of the programming schedule, which emphasizes the evening broadcasting slot when, as she added, the audience is most active, as well as the launch of a new program “Today on RT,” which airs on weekdays from 5 PM to 7 PM.

"RT Balkan continues to grow - recently, our television signal is available not only through “Telekom” in Serbia but also throughout the entire territory of the Republic of Srpska," Milinčić added.

It is worth noting that, instead of journalists in the studio, the news on Happy television is now read by AI presenters who introduce themselves as “Bojana Filipović” and “Marko Popović,” and there is no mention in the news broadcast that these are AI characters.

Whether the “work optimization” mentioned by RT Balkan implies the arrival of AI hosts or relates to the application of artificial intelligence tools for content production remains to be seen.

Source: UNS