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Can AI News Anchors Protect Journalists?

COY WIRE, CNN 10 ANCHOR: Hello and happy Friyay, everyone. The weekend is here. I`m Coy Wire. And this is CNN 10, where we`re finishing out this week

strong with the best 10 minutes in news because of you.

I am pumped to get into today`s stories with you, so let`s get right to it. We`re going to start with this incredible story in Venezuela where years of

political conflict and controversial elections in July have led journalists to find innovative ways to safely do their jobs. The two anchors you see

here are AI avatars of the news program Venezuela Retweets.
 

avatar [ˈævətɑr] n. 化身

The show is the brainchild of a group of media organizations who want to protect their real-life journalists from a crackdown on free speech.

Venezuela has been experiencing political and economic strife since President Nicolas Maduro took over from his predecessor n 2013. Since then, he`s used
 

strife [straɪf] n. 冲突，争斗，倾轧；吵架，不和

democratic processes like referendums to extend his executive power over government while imprisoning political enemies and attacking the judiciary branch.

Maduro`s time in office has seen political corruption, urban violence, astronomical prices and shortages of goods that Venezuelans took to the

streets to protest over the years, and deadly protests erupted across the country following its disputed July 28th presidential election that named

Maduro the winner with little proof.

The authoritarian regime has not stopped cracking down on citizens and journalists since then. Organizations say at least 16 journalists have been

detained covering the nationwide protests.

All but four of them are still behind bars for charges like terrorism. It`s that threat that`s led these journalists to get creative. Because of
 

behind bars 在监狱里

government censorship, most folks get their news on social media. While Venezuela Retweets is streamed online, that makes it harder to trace the

video and easier for AI avatars to front a newscast.
 

front [frʌnt] v. 朝向；面对

newscast [ˋnjuz͵kæst] n. 新闻广播

Now, artificial intelligence doesn`t come without its own risks. In the wrong hands, it can be used to spread disinformation and erode trust in
 

(fall) in the wrong hands 落到危险分子（或敌人）手里

institutions.

And some of you on social media even asked if I am AI and I can guarantee you that there are no glitches in this system. Actually, there are a lot of
 

glitch [glɪtʃ] n.（设备、机器等的）小故障

glitches and that`s how you know I am not AI. All right, our Stefano Pozzebon has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LA CHAMA, AI AVATARS: (Speaking in Foreign Language)

STEFANO POZZEBON, JOURNALIST: Hey, Chama, can you speak in English?

LA CHAMA: Of course. And my partner, El Pana, does too.

EL PANA, AI AVATARS: Hello, CNN. Thanks for the invitation.

POZZEBON: And you recognize AI avatars from real journalists. These two avatars were launched by a collective of journalists in Venezuela to

protect the identities of reporters after the government intensified cracking down on independent media following July`s election. Venezuelan

authorities proclaimed the strongman Nicolas Maduro the winner without showing any proof.
 

proclaim [prəˋklem] n. 宣告；公布；声明

And when people took to the streets to protest, hundreds were detained, including 10 journalists, 24 people died.

LA CHAMA: As avatars, we are, in a way, an expression of the face of journalism that cannot show its face today because of the high risk of

being detained and prosecuted under hate incitement laws.
 

incitement [ɪnˋsaɪtmənt] n. 激励；刺激；煽动

POZZEBON: While the images are AI, real journalists script and record the voices of the avatars, their identities protected for safety reasons.
 

script [skrɪpt] v. 为（电影、戏剧、广播或演讲等）写稿

EL PANA: Imagine that even photos taken of the demonstrations have to be distorted because the government can use them to track down citizens who
 

distort [dɪsˋtɔrt] v. 使（电视等的声音、影像）变形

are protesting the election results. Over 1,500 people have been detained.

POZZEBON: But how can I be sure that the information you share is real?

LA CHAMA: We always clarify that although we are avatars, we are the result of the intelligence of over 100 Venezuelan journalists.

POZZEBON: AI is sometimes touted as a threat to reliable information and a risk to democracy. But in this case, it has become part of a journalist`s safety kit.
 

tout [taʊt] v. 宣传；吹捧

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WIRE: Pop quiz, hot shot. Which of the Earth`s oceans has the highest salinity or concentration of salt? Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Arctic

Ocean or Indian Ocean?

Put your hands up if you said Atlantic Ocean. Of the five ocean basins, it is the saltiest thanks to factors like large drainage areas and trade winds.
 

drainage [ˋdrenɪdʒ] n. 排水；放水

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is the Silver Dragon Tidal Bore on the Qiantang River in China. A bore occurs when the leading edge of an incoming tide
 

Tidal Bore 涌潮，又称暴涨潮或怒潮

bore [bor] n.（由河口涌上来的）激潮，怒潮

creates a wave that surges up a river. Tide watching is a Chinese tradition of the mid-autumn festival, which falls on a full moon.

This year`s tide was higher than usual after the recent typhoon Bebinca, the strongest storm to hit Shanghai in 75 years, according to state media.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WIRE: Today`s store getting a 10 out of 10. You might go bunkers for these unique houses. Imagine living in a refurbished bunker 14 feet underground.
 

bunker [ˋbʌŋkɚ] n. 地下碉堡

refurbished [riˋfɝbɪʃt] adj. 再装修过的; 整修过的; 翻新的

There`s a Cold War time capsule. It`s one of only 1,500 bunkers ever built in the 1950s post-war Britain to protect up to three people from a nuclear

attack. That and more, take a look with our Jeremy Roth.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEREMY ROTH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Looking for a truly bulletproof real estate bargain? How about this honest-to-goodness Cold War era bunker
 

honest-to-goodness 真的，真实的; real or true

that`s going up for auction soon. According to SDL Auctions, the bunker was built in the 1950s and is nestled 14 feet below a country field in

Derbyshire, England.

Roughly the size of a garage, this cozy decommissioned bunker retains some of its original charm with classic bunker features like an asbestos fire
 

decommission [͵dikəˋmɪʃən] v. 使（军舰、飞机等）退役; 关闭，停止使用（设备或武器）

asbestos [æsˋbɛstəs] n.【矿】石绒；石棉; adj. （含）石棉的

blanket, vintage binoculars, and a still-stocked pantry that`s not at all gross. Also, this ominous Cold War hotline phone for literal red alerts.
 

pantry [ˋpæntrɪ] n. 食品储藏室

ominous [ˋɑmənəs] adj. 不祥的，不吉的；预示的

But it also has sought-after upgrades like carpeting, velvet drapes, and an unused chemical toilet. Hey, can`t put a price on that. Actually,
 

drape [drep] n. 帘（尤指窗帘），幔

auctioneers expect buyers will fork over up to $26,000 for this homey piece of history, perfect for those looking to shield themselves from a volatile
 

fork over 不情愿付出

homey [ˋhomɪ] adj. 像家一样的；舒适的；亲切的

real estate market. And also, you know, a thermonuclear blast.
 

thermonuclear [͵θɝmoˋnjuklɪɚ] adj.【核】热核的

Hey, you know what rocks? This Minnesota home covered in rocks. If you`re passing through the town of Arco, stop and marvel at this craggy crib that
 

marvel [ˋmɑrv!] v. 感到惊讶；感到好奇[（+at）]

craggy [ˋkrægɪ] adj. 峭壁多的；崎岖的

crib [krɪb] n. 家，窝，小屋

was once a gas station but is now the uber-unique home of the Herzogs, who`ve lived here for 25 years. Covered in everything from pipestone to
 

pipestone [ˋpaɪp͵ston] n. 烟斗石（一种宝石）

pink quartz to volcanic rock, it may seem random, but the owners say there`s more here than meets the eye.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It`s not just a bunch of rocks put together. There are designs on this house.

ROTH: Finally, if you were holding out for a world-champion-caliber home, sorry, this one is finally taken after 12 years on the market. NBA legend
 

hold out for【口】故意拖延达成协议以谋求某事物

caliber [ˋkæləbɚ] n. 水平，程度

Michael Jordan`s Chicago-area mansion, originally listed in 2012 and sporting nine bedrooms, 19 bathrooms, and a full-size basketball court, is

finally under contract for a reported $14 million. Eh, you weren`t going to buy it anyway.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WIRE: And now for our favorite part of the day, shout-out time. This one goes to Mr. Wilmer`s class at Woodward Academy right here in the ATL

Atlanta, Georgia. Go War Eagles.

And heading out to Cali, out to the left coast soon to interview Simone Biles, as you all know. Thank you for the awesome questions. So this one`s

going to Castle Park High School in Chula Vista, California. Rise up.

It`s been an awesome week, everyone. Go on out and make someone smile today. Remember, you are more powerful than you know. I`m Coy Wire. This is

CNN 10. It`s been a blessing to spend this week with you.

END