EU AI Act: What Does It Mean for Radio Professionals?.
Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing the broadcasting landscape, offering new opportunities to streamline workflows, support creativity and improve efficiency. As radio stations increasingly embrace these technologies, understanding the responsibilities that come with their use has never been more important.
This was the focus of a recent Learning Waves training session on the EU AI Act, presented by Joanne Sweeney of Digital Training Institute, bringing together professionals from across Ireland's commercial radio sector to explore the legal considerations, practical challenges and best practices surrounding AI in the radio workplace.
AI as an assistant, not a replacement
One of the strongest messages throughout the session was that AI should enhance human capabilities, not replace them. While AI can be a valuable assistant for tasks such as transcribing interviews, summarising documents, analysing data and supporting content creation, human judgement must remain central to the process.
For broadcasters, this is particularly important. Journalism relies on accuracy, verification and independent thinking, while radio's strength lies in its creativity and human connection with audiences. AI-generated information can contain inaccuracies, fabricated details or misleading content, making human oversight essential at every stage.
Understanding the EU AI Act
The training explored the EU AI Act and its risk-based approach to regulating artificial intelligence. AI systems are classified into four categories: unacceptable risk, high risk, limited risk and minimal risk, with different obligations depending on their potential impact.
Broadcasters must also consider their existing responsibilities under GDPR, copyright legislation and confidentiality agreements. Particular attention was given to the risks of entering personal, commercially sensitive or confidential information into AI platforms, especially free tools that may use submitted information to train their models.
The importance of developing AI literacy among employees was another key takeaway. Organisations must ensure that staff understand the AI tools they use and know how to use them responsibly.
A practical approach: Green, Amber and Red
To help radio stations navigate everyday AI decisions, the Learning Waves and Independent Broadcasters of Ireland (IBI) AI policy introduces a simple traffic-light framework:
- Green – Go ahead with human checks: Transcription, initial research, drafting copy, summarising public information and administrative tasks.
- Amber – Approval required: AI-assisted news scripts, synthetic voices, significant image alterations and audience data analysis. These activities require additional oversight and appropriate record-keeping.
- Red – Not permitted: Practices that breach the policy, including misleading deepfakes and content that impersonates real people.
Each station is encouraged to adapt the policy to its own operations, appoint a designated AI lead, establish an approved tools list and ensure that clear procedures are in place for employees, contractors and freelancers.
Protecting audience trust
For radio broadcasters, transparency is particularly important. Audiences should not be misled into believing that AI-generated voices, images or other content are genuine. Stations also need clear procedures for identifying AI-generated material received from external sources, including advertisers, agencies and listeners.
The training highlighted how easily convincing AI-generated content can undermine a station's credibility. When it comes to news and current affairs, verification must always take priority.
Turning policy into practice
Having an AI policy is only the beginning. Stations need to understand how AI is currently being used across their organisations, provide appropriate staff training and regularly review their procedures as technology and regulations are quickly evolving. The recommendation is to review the policy every three months, ensuring it remains relevant and practical.
Ultimately, responsible AI adoption is not about resisting technological progress. It is about embracing its opportunities while protecting the values that make radio distinctive: creativity, credibility, independent journalism and the trust of its listeners.