《老中地方新聞》引領灣區中文媒體邁向AI新紀元。
在生成式人工智慧浪潮席捲全球媒體業之際，2008年成立的《老中地方新聞》率先於舊金山灣區中文媒體中大膽擁抱AI科技，建立起一套涵蓋虛擬主播、新聞自動生成、多語言支援與多平台推播的完整AI新聞生產鏈，成為灣區中文媒體數位轉型的領航者。
AI智慧主播系統 打造多語多聲的新聞平台
《老中地方新聞》率先採用先進AI智慧主播系統，整合了文本生成、語音合成與虛擬人影像驅動等多項AI技術，實現每日新聞播報、專題製作與工商宣傳內容的自動化產製。該系統目前擁有多位中英文虛擬主播，具備不同性別與語音口音，並能支援超過30種語言的轉換，滿足灣區多族裔社群的資訊需求。
這一創新應用不僅有效降低新聞製作的人力成本，也顯著提升資訊傳播的時效與頻率，為中小型媒體提供了一條數位轉型的可行路徑。
社群分發成效顯著 影響力持續擴大
AI主播所生成的影片節目每日透過YouTube、Facebook、WeChat、Line與X（原Twitter）等平台同步發布，目前已觸及逾60,000名線上粉絲。旗下Facebook社群「灣區超市買買買」目前擁有超過16,000名活躍粉絲團，成為當地華人社區生活資訊與商家推廣的重要場域。
媒體矩陣融合線上線下
除了AI視訊新聞，《老中地方新聞》仍維持完整傳統媒體布局，包括免費報紙三地版本（東灣、北灣與中半島）、AM1450中文廣播節目、每週電子報、行動APP與新聞網站，成功打造出一套融合線上線下的全媒體矩陣，提升品牌曝光與使用者黏著度。
同業現況：尚未全面採納AI技術
相較之下，其他灣區中文媒體如《世界日報》《星島日報》仍以傳統新聞編採模式為主，雖已有網站新聞、電子報與APP等數位應用，但尚未觀察到AI主播或自動新聞生成系統的導入。
技術組合背後的實力
業界觀察指出，《老中地方新聞》的AI新聞生產鏈可能涵蓋四大核心技術：
- 文本生成AI（如GPT類模型）—協助撰寫新聞稿與整理報導內容
- 語音合成與虛擬主播動畫驅動—讓新聞播報具備真人語調與臉部動態
- 視訊自動剪輯整合工具—快速產出編排良好的MP4影片
- 多平台分發與演算法推播優化—提高在社群與影音平台的觸及率
帶動產業轉型 創造新商機
作為灣區目前唯一實際整合AI技術於新聞內容生產的中文媒體，《老中地方新聞》不僅展現出本地媒體數位轉型的實踐範例，更藉由AI內容推播開啟商業模式的升級空間，包括自動化的產品介紹、活動宣傳影片等，皆可透過AI快速生成並多平台發佈，開拓潛在營收來源。
面對媒體行業未來，《老中地方新聞》也持續探索更多AI應用可能，包括即時互動型新聞內容、多模態AI整合（文字、圖像、語音、影片同步），以進一步提升觀眾參與度與媒體影響力。
本報記者國基報導
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News for Chinese Leads Bay Area Chinese Media into a New Era of AI Innovation
As generative AI continues to transform the global media industry, News for Chinese, founded in 2008, has emerged as a pioneer in the San Francisco Bay Area’s Chinese media landscape. By embracing cutting-edge AI technologies, the outlet has use a comprehensive AI-driven news production chain—featuring virtual anchors, automated content creation, multilingual support, and multi-platform distribution—positioning itself at the forefront of digital transformation in Chinese-language media.
AI-Powered Virtual Anchors: A Multilingual, Multivoice News Platform
News for Chinese was one of the first to implement an advanced AI virtual anchor system. This system integrates technologies such as text generation, text-to-speech synthesis, and AI-driven animated avatars to automatically produce daily news broadcasts, feature stories, and commercial content. The system currently features multiple Chinese and English virtual anchors, representing various genders and accents, and supports translations in more than 30 languages—catering to the Bay Area’s diverse ethnic communities.
This innovative approach not only significantly reduces the labor costs of traditional news production but also improves the speed and frequency of information delivery, offering small and mid-sized media outlets a viable path toward digital transformation.
Strong Social Media Presence Expands Reach and Influence
Videos generated by the AI anchors are distributed daily via YouTube, Facebook, WeChat, Line, and X (formerly Twitter), reaching over 60,000 online followers. The outlet’s Facebook group, Bay Area Smartbuy, has more than 16,000 active followers, serving as a key platform for community news and local business promotions within the Chinese-speaking population.
Full Media Ecosystem: Integrating Online and Offline Channels
Beyond AI-generated video news, News for Chinese maintains a robust traditional media presence, including free print newspapers for three subregions (East Bay, North Bay, and the Peninsula), AM1450 Chinese-language radio programming, weekly e-newsletters, a mobile app, and a comprehensive news website. This hybrid media ecosystem enhances both brand visibility and audience engagement across formats.
Industry Comparison: Others Yet to Fully Embrace AI
In contrast, other major Chinese-language media outlets in the Bay Area, such as World Journal and Sing Tao Daily, still rely heavily on traditional editorial workflows. While they have adopted digital tools like websites, newsletters, and mobile apps, there is no indication they have deployed AI-generated video news or virtual anchors.
The Technology Behind the Innovation
Industry experts note that the AI news production system used by News for Chinese likely integrates four core technologies:
- Text Generation AI (e.g., GPT-based models) – Assists in writing news articles and compiling reports
- Text-to-Speech (TTS) and Virtual Anchor Animation – Produces human-like speech and facial animations for the virtual newscasters
- Automated Video Editing Tools – Combines audio, text, and visuals into polished MP4 news clips
- Multi-Platform Distribution and Algorithm Optimization – Enhances visibility and reach across social and video platforms
Driving Industry Transformation and Unlocking New Business Potential
As the only Chinese-language media outlet in the Bay Area to fully integrate AI into its news production, News for Chinese offers a compelling model for localized media digital transformation. AI-powered content also opens up new revenue streams, such as automated product promotions and event marketing videos that can be generated quickly and published across multiple channels.
Looking ahead, News for Chinese is actively exploring additional AI applications, including real-time interactive news and multimodal AI integration—combining text, image, voice, and video—to further increase viewer engagement and expand its media influence.
pretty good ！