AI avatars protect Venezuelan journalists from government persecution

Journalists have been using AI as a safeguard against increasing government arrests in Venezuela. Connectas, a Colombian journalism platform, has created an AI tool that lets Venezuelan journalists write without putting themselves in harm’s way.

The AI avatars, known as La Chama or Bestie and El Pana or Buddy, bring news to the audience daily and report on events happening in Venezuela. The personalities are helping to disguise actual reporters so that the journalists themselves might be kept safe while still being able to broadcast news.