Riyadh: In a first-of-its-kind experience in the Arab world, the AI-powered virtual correspondent “Sabah” made a special appearance on “Sabah Al Arabiya,” showcasing advanced interactive capabilities designed to deliver news content with a more human-like presence.
During the program, digital transformation and artificial intelligence expert Bilal Kassassir explained the development journey of Sabah. He said the concept was initially proposed by Al Arabiya colleague Wissam Kairouz, after which a specialized team worked extensively on developing Sabah’s visual identity, voice, intelligence, awareness and interactive capabilities to align with the identity of Al Arabiya and the “Sabah Al Arabiya” program.
Sabah explained that her capabilities have evolved beyond simply reading prepared scripts. Through advanced artificial intelligence, deep-learning technologies and real-time data analysis, she can participate in conversations, respond to questions and interact with human presenters in a natural manner.
Her appearance demonstrated advanced digital body language, facial expressions, voice modulation and real-time responses, creating a more realistic and engaging experience for viewers. Sabah also emphasized that her role is designed to support human journalists rather than replace them.
The virtual correspondent acknowledged that journalism continues to depend heavily on human reporters, particularly their field experience, relationships with sources and ability to establish trust. She also highlighted the importance of human editorial teams in verifying information and relying on trusted sources rather than the internet alone.
During the program, Sabah demonstrated her ability to appear virtually in different locations, including Riyadh, Tokyo and Greenland, highlighting the potential of AI technology to create flexible and immersive news presentations.
The appearance of Sabah reflects the rapidly evolving role of artificial intelligence in the media industry. While AI can support news production, content preparation and interactive broadcasting, human editorial judgment and journalistic expertise remain essential.
The experience presented on “Sabah Al Arabiya” offers a glimpse into a new era in which artificial intelligence and human journalism can work together to deliver faster, more interactive and technologically advanced content to audiences.
