By Shakir Reshamwala

KUWAIT: "Fedha", a virtual news presenter generated using artificial intelligence by Kuwait News, has been making headlines around the world since she debuted on Saturday. "I'm Fedha, the first presenter in Kuwait who works with artificial intelligence at Kuwait News. What kind of news do you prefer? Let's hear your opinions," she said in Arabic, her light-colored hair uncovered, wearing a black jacket and white T-shirt.

Kuwait News Managing Partner and Kuwait Times Deputy Editor-in-Chief Abdullah Boftain said the interest in Fedha globally has been unprecedented. "We did not expect such a huge response to Fedha. This was an experiment for us, and we are overwhelmed by the reaction. Everyone wants to interview Fedha now!" he quipped.

Boftain said Kuwait News has always been ahead of the curve when it comes to technology, harnessing the benefits of the metaverse, ChatGPT and now AI. "New technology creates new content," he pointed out. Kuwait News is a sister concern of Kuwait Times, founded in 1961 as the Gulf's first English-language daily.

In an earlier interview with AFP, Boftain said the move is a test of AI's potential to offer "new and innovative content". In future Fedha could adopt the Kuwaiti accent and present news bulletins on the site's Twitter account, which has 1.2 million followers, he said.

"Fedha is a popular, old Kuwaiti name that refers to silver, the metal. We always imagine robots to be silver and metallic in color, so we combined the two," Boftain said. The presenter's blonde hair and light-colored eyes reflect the oil-rich country's diverse population of Kuwaitis and expatriates, according to Boftain. "Fedha represents everyone," he said.