Public Media Coexisting with AI: RTI’s Chris Liu Discusses Voice Ethics and Transformation Challenges

By Wu Yu-jie, NCCU News

Redefining Voice Media in the Age of Generative AI

From text generation and voice synthesis to AI agents, the wave of generative AI is fundamentally reshaping media production, information dissemination, and audience engagement. In this shifting landscape, will audio media be replaced, or can it forge a new path forward?

On April 23, the Center for General Education and the Office of University Social Responsibility at National Chengchi University (NCCU) co-hosted a lecture featuring Chris Liu, Deputy President of Radio Taiwan International (RTI). Drawing on RTI’s nearly century-long history, Liu shared insights into the evolution of audio media and discussed how to identify opportunities for transformation amidst the AI surge.

The Pillar of Trust: Multilingual Service and Critical Infrastructure

Liu summarized RTI’s contemporary social significance through three keywords: multilingual broadcasting, shortwave radio, and critical infrastructure. As Taiwan’s national public broadcaster, RTI has long delivered information and perspectives from Taiwan to the world. It currently provides services in 20 languages, including English, French, Spanish, German, Russian, Cantonese, Indonesian, Thai, Vietnamese, Filipino, and Arabic.

“RTI’s relationship with its listeners is like that of lifelong friends,” Liu remarked, noting that the station boasts loyal global audiences with over a decade of “seniority.” This bond, forged through the intimacy of voice, has built a bridge of trust that Liu identifies as a precious asset for public media and a vital direction for future development.

Technologically, RTI maintains its shortwave (SW) broadcasting capabilities. Shortwave’s ability to travel long distances without internet reliance makes it difficult to block and provides anonymity—traits that remain crucial for reaching audiences in politically restrictive regions like China and Myanmar. Furthermore, RTI is designated as National Critical Infrastructure, meaning it must maintain communication and continue broadcasting Taiwan’s voice to the international community during emergencies, natural disasters, or conflict.

AI Transformation and the Human Element

Addressing the transition to AI, Liu highlighted the increasing demand for multilingual information in Taiwan due to the growing population of migrant workers, new residents, and international marriages. RTI is currently spearheading an AI Transformation Project that utilizes AI translation and synthesis to rapidly convert news into Southeast Asian languages. This initiative aims to uphold the “media access rights” of migrant and new resident communities.

However, Liu issued a reminder regarding the impact on the workforce: while entry-level and repetitive tasks are most susceptible to AI replacement, roles requiring human judgment, on-site presence, and trust-building—such as investigative journalism, explanatory reporting, and community management—will become even more indispensable.

Regarding AI ethics, Liu emphasized four guiding principles:

• Transparency: Clearly labeling AI-generated or assisted content.

• Authorization: Respecting data licensing and intellectual property.

• Non-maleficence: Ensuring technology does not cause harm.

• Human-in-the-loop: Maintaining the necessity of human decision-making and judgment.

Challenges and Future Outlook

Reflecting on RTI’s experience, Liu noted that large-scale transformation is not an overnight process. Organizations often face hurdles such as internal work culture, structural constraints, and regulatory limitations. Beyond management and technology, RTI is actively engaging younger generations through the “Young Voice 100” youth cultivation program and various offline events to deepen physical connections with listeners.

From public service and international broadcasting to linguistic innovation, RTI continues to redefine its role in the AI era. “We position ourselves as a platform for international exchange, not just a media outlet that broadcasts content,” Liu concluded.