AI and the Art of Podcasting: How Pager Protocol Turned a Tragedy into Trending Audio Content

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Shortly Following the Fatal Pager Blasts Linked to Hezbollah, An AI-Produced Podcast Was Released

Merely a few hours post the lethal incidents involving exploding pagers and walkie-talkies, which resulted in the death of numerous individuals in Lebanon and left hundreds injured, an unusual podcast made its debut on various podcast platforms. Unlike focusing on the assaults targeting Hezbollah affiliates or the suspected involvement of Israeli agents, Pager Protocol emerges as a 10-episode series generated by artificial intelligence. This series aims to swiftly transform these novel events into a narrative podcast format.

Debuting on September 18, coinciding with the incidents involving walkie-talkie blasts, the Pager Protocol mirrors the format of an audiobook. Each installment delivers approximately a chapter's worth of content, lasting between 10 to 12 minutes. In the initial two releases, a narrative is voiced by an AI, weaving the tale of the head of a mythical espionage bureau, his world-traveling operative, and a CIA analyst. This trio is in pursuit of a substantial batch of pagers ordered by the elusive yet superficially portrayed Crescent Shield terror group. While the actual names of the nations are altered—such as Tel Aviv becoming Zion City—the identities of the implicated parties are not hard to deduce.

John McDermott, who helped start Caloroga Shark Media, the firm responsible for the podcast, describes Pager Protocol as a groundbreaking achievement in the realm of audio narratives. He praises the podcast for its innovative blend of rapid AI technology and thrilling suspense.

Mark Francis, co-founder of Caloroga Shark, reveals that the news of the blasts in Lebanon sparked his curiosity about their execution. "It seemed like the foundation for an enthralling narrative," he remarks. Consequently, he introduced the concept to Claude, which generated a story outline. Following this, the team rapidly developed a screenplay and refined it further with the assistance of AI. After achieving a satisfactory script, Caloroga Shark utilized Audiosonic and ElevenLabs for voiceovers, crafted podcast visuals using Ideogram, and employed ChatGPT along with Claude to craft the episode summaries.

"AI serves as an instrument for us," Francis explains. "It's not about substituting anyone. Rather, it enhances our capability to perform tasks with greater speed, efficiency, and quality in programming."

Caloroga Shark takes a different approach to podcasting compared to companies that spend months or even years perfecting their audio projects. Their focus is on helping creators generate income more efficiently. To this end, they have introduced a series of podcasts, each lasting about 10 minutes. Unlike Pager Protocol, which draws directly from current events, their topics vary widely, including segments on the British royal family and comedic takes on news. All episodes share a uniform format, featuring a single commercial break midway through, and the company prioritizes frequent and plentiful releases. By leveraging artificial intelligence, Caloroga Shark aims to optimize production processes and capture trending topics more quickly than competitors in the podcast industry.

Francis mentions that his ability to rapidly produce scripts and episodes allows him to write the content for each week's podcast shortly before it goes live. This enables him to include the most recent developments regarding the situation in Lebanon. "It allows the narrative to stay quite authentic," he explains. "I don't have to guess what's going to happen 10 episodes down the line, unsure of what the next three to four weeks might bring."

The concept of rapidly produced, AI-driven podcasts may alarm certain enthusiasts and producers, yet some figures within the sector regard it as an unavoidable trend. Oskar Serrander, the mind behind the AI-centric podcasting studio Wondercraft, likened to "Canva for audio," believes AI can empower content creators to keep pace with rapidly changing cultural trends. Though he acknowledges AI's limitations, such as its tendency to recycle existing ideas instead of generating fresh ones, he appreciates its potential to make podcasting more accessible for various brands and creators.

Serrander observes that the number of podcast creators is lower compared to those on OnlyFans. Additionally, he points out the existence of millions of YouTube channels, along with TikTok and various other social media platforms, all vying for audience engagement. He believes that AI could facilitate a wider access to podcast creation, potentially making the sector both more diverse and financially rewarding.

Admittedly, enthusiasts and professionals within the podcasting community view it differently. According to Jason Saldanha, the COO of the not-for-profit online radio distributor PRX, the producers he has collaborated with appear to be cautious about adopting AI. They argue that the essence of podcasting lies in the connection between the host and the listeners. (It should be noted that PRX is involved in distributing podcasts for Condé Nast, the parent company of WIRED.)

Leveraging AI to convert a podcast into multiple languages and releasing it globally might seem appealing, but it challenges the genuine nature of the content. According to Saldanha, the most impactful podcasts create a personal connection with their listeners, making them feel as though they are in the same space or collaborating on solving a problem together. While using an AI voice to deliver daily news or invent a new story inspired by current events may attract podcasters aiming for quick financial gains, Saldanha believes this strategy is ultimately not sustainable.

Saldanha points out that most audio businesses are managed by individuals who previously held executive roles in radio and, during the 1990s, implemented advertising that constituted nearly half of the broadcast content. This led to a situation where listeners felt overwhelmed by the excessive commercials, prompting them to seek alternatives, initially turning to Napster and subsequently Spotify.

Saldanha points out that these executives, now involved in the digital audio sphere, are utilizing similar strategies to maximize earnings from podcasts. This approach, coupled with introducing an abundance of new podcasts, risks diminishing the value of what has been considered a high-quality content medium, thereby posing a threat to the podcast industry as a whole.

Saldanha points out that these companies are saturating the market with material aimed at achieving minimal interaction. He acknowledges this as a viable tactic but criticizes it for lacking sustainability. "It's unappealing and detrimental, and in the end, you're harming yourself for the sake of a slight financial gain," he comments.

Francis from Caloroga Shark views it differently. In his opinion, AI should be one of several tools podcast creators leverage to differentiate themselves in a saturated market. He believes that the audience will determine which podcasts remain popular, regardless of their use of AI. It remains to be seen if Pager Protocol will be included among those tools.

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