Glenn Beck didn’t just spark a conversation when he unveiled a fully AI-generated podcast episode. He poured gasoline on a debate cable news executives have likely been having quietly behind closed doors.
Which network will be the first to put artificial intelligence on the air in a meaningful way?
We can all pretend it isn’t coming. It’s easy to say Fox News, MS NOW, CNN, NewsNation, and Newsmax will stick with human anchors forever. That sounds noble. It also ignores how this industry has historically behaved when technology advances and budgets tighten.
Cable news already runs on repetition. Overnight hours are filled with reruns, recycled panels, and taped specials. The audience is small, the ad rates are lower, and expectations are minimal. That makes those hours the perfect testing ground for something new and risky.
At some point, a network executive is going to ask an obvious question. ‘Why not try an AI anchor on the news wheel between midnight and 5 AM ET? If it works, great. If it doesn’t, few people will even notice’.
Beck’s AI podcast matters because it shows how fast the technology is improving. Audio is easier than video, but the gap is shrinking faster than many people want to admit. If you have to listen closely to realize something isn’t human — as was the case in the podcast episode from Glenn Beck — that’s a major threshold already crossed.
This is where the hand-wringing usually begins. Critics will argue that using AI on-air would destroy journalistic integrity. They’ll say it would permanently damage credibility. That argument collapses under even mild scrutiny.
Look at what passes for journalism on cable news today. Opinion masquerades as reporting. Talking points replace original sourcing. Outrage is often rewarded more than accuracy. With a straight face, I’m supposed to believe an AI anchor is where viewers will finally draw the line?
Audiences already understand what cable news is. They tune in for perspective, validation, and habit more than pure information. An AI anchor delivering headlines overnight isn’t going to shatter some sacred trust that barely exists.
That doesn’t mean there won’t be backlash. There will be headlines, social media outrage, and plenty of performative concern. Competitors will lambast their counterparts by arguing that it sets a dangerous precedent. That the outlet utilizing AI can’t and shouldn’t be trusted.
None of that has ever stopped innovation in this space before. If ratings hold and costs drop, the experiment will continue.
So who goes first? CNN feels like an unlikely candidate, given its recent emphasis on credibility and course correction. MS NOW leans more heavily on personality and ideology, which doesn’t pair well with synthetic delivery. Newsmax thrives on authenticity and grievance, both difficult to fake convincingly.
That leaves Fox News and NewsNation as the most interesting possibilities. Fox News has the resources, the tech infrastructure, and a willingness to experiment quietly. NewsNation has the incentive and the motive, especially if AI offers a way to expand coverage without expanding payroll.
The first attempt won’t be flashy. It won’t replace stars or prime time hosts. It will be positioned as “enhanced automation” or “advanced production.” The word AI will barely be mentioned at first.
This isn’t me cheering for it. It’s not me hoping anchors get replaced by algorithms. It’s simply acknowledging reality. Cable news has never been slow to adopt tools that reduce costs and increase output.
AI on-air is coming. Glenn Beck has shown that to be true. The only real questions are who blinks first, how audiences react, and whether anyone even cares. When it happens, the surprise won’t be that it occurred. The surprise will be how little resistance it actually faces.
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Garrett Searight is Barrett Media’s News Editor, which includes writing daily news stories, features, and opinion columns. He joined Barrett Media in 2022 after a decade leading several radio brands in several formats, as well as a 5-year stint working in local television. In addition to his work with Barrett Media, he is a radio and TV play-by-play broadcaster. Reach out to him at Garrett@BarrettMedia.com.
Looking at the low number of average cable viewers, NOBODY CARES and the few that might probably wouldn’t be receptive. Another nail in the coffin of cable news. In a country of over 300 million each network struggles to get 1 million viewers at any given time.