Generative Artificial Intelligence, also known as AI, has been a hot topic on the UMSL campus for the past few weeks. The most recent discussion around AI has involved our very own radio station in the Millenium Student Center. Recently, an unnamed professor brought to the radio station the idea of using AI in their sessions. AI-generated PSAs were one of the few things the professor had ideas for. Still, while the station’s general manager, Thaddaeus Morgan, was open to hearing out the ideas from the professor, not all UMSL radio members were as interested in the idea.
Remy Xa, the group’s former treasurer and a current DJ for UMSL Radio, shared their stance on AI in an email sent on October 10 urging recipients to sign a peititon titled ‘Petition to Keep UMSL Radio for UMSL Voices’. The petition was signed by more than 100 people, including students, faculty and alumni.
On October 14, UMSL Radio sent an email stating that the executive board had already decided against AI-generated PSAs, but were moving forward with follow-up conversations with the professor that proposed the idea as to not shut it down without doing their due dilligence. Two hours after that email was sent, Xa shared their formal resignation. Xa’s resignation briefly made the status of the station inactive, due to the lack of a treasurer, but UMSL Radio has since found a new treasurer, Darnell Tabor, to reinstate the organization and continue on the duties since Xa’s absence.
We, at The Current, had the opportunity to interview both Morgan and Xa to get the full story of the recent AI proposal. While individuals working with The Current may have personal opinions on the matter, we strive to give unbiased news to our readers in hopes for them to make their own opinions and do further research into the topics we discuss.
When Xa was asked what they thought about the initial response from the station about the proposal to bring AI-generated PSAs into the segments, Xa said:
“I do not believe there is harm in hearing someone out and filling out, like determining what the ideas are there. What made me feel voiceless was when myself and another executive board member were voicing our feedback, our opposition to this concept and how it would challenge the integrity of both the radio station and have very dubious ethical implications.”
On the other hand, Morgan said that he told the executive board that he was willing to listen to reasons against the AI proposal if they, “have at least a valid reason … whether it’s data, research or whatever” and continued to say, “I don’t make uninformed decisions. I don’t just make a decision based off how I feel about it.”
Morgan was asked if there were plans to incorporate AI into the station and he stated that while it does not seem to be possible now, in the future he would like to have the ability to allow a person to add an AI-generated voice in addition to their own in a set if they want to add dialogue for multiple people or if the DJ does not feel comfortable hosting a show by themselves.
Both Xa and Morgan agreed that the AI proposal was not taken into consideration to fill time slots. Currently, UMSL Radio has filled 90% of its slot capacity this semester, which is the highest percentage of filled time slots since 2020, before COVID-19.
Despite the contrast in beliefs towards AI, Morgan and Xa both have a passion for UMSL Radio that will continue to fuel the growth of the radio station for years. Morgan states, “If you’re interested about or passionate about anything, this is the place for you … you can have a show … if you just wanna work behind the scenes, you could do it. And we welcome it, you know, we will make positions if you have an idea … There’s people that just want to do a podcast; let’s go for it, you know. I’m really into the ‘sky’s the limit’ type of thing.”
Xa has similar sentiments towards the station, saying, “I saw the potential for just sharing these passions, letting people be earnest and geeky. When I was doing my own, like, little self-guided tour of UMSL, I heard a song by Soft Cell, ‘Tainted Love’, playing on the radio. And there was someone in the booth, like, bobbing their head, and I was like, I don’t know what’s happening there, but I want to be in that room and I want to, you know, be present for that conversation and how to be there.”
Xa also expressed the need for a public meeting or forum with professors from different majors such as Information Systems and Communication to come in and speak about AI, its effects and how to successfully use it as a tool. One of Xa’s last comments was, “If UMSL radio wishes to gain the faith and have true feedback from its DJs, it should have a general meeting or a public forum to listen to them.”
Thaddaeus, on the other hand, welcomes people to come to him with opinions and questions on AI and anything about the radio and he will hear them out as long as they have reasoning to back up their statements and questions. Thaddaeus also said, “We need to open up discussion and my whole push with this [AI Proposal] was to understand what AI is, what this person is offering, and so then we can make an informed decision.”
