Radio has been an integral part of Indonesia's long history. Since its significant emergence in the early 1930s—particularly with the establishment of the Dutch East Indies Radio Institute in 1933—this medium has played a vital role.
Before the widespread use of television and print media, radio was the "breath" of resistance, spreading the fighting spirit of heroes to remote corners of the country. Ultimately, radio became a silent witness and broadcaster of the most historic news: the proclamation of Indonesian independence.
However, as time passes, technology continues to evolve.
World Radio Day, celebrated every February 13th, now carries a highly relevant theme: Radio and Artificial Intelligence (AI). This shift marks a new chapter in the way society consumes information and audio entertainment.
Every February 13th, the world celebrates Global Radio Day to honor the medium that has proven to be the most resilient in the history of mass communication. However, this year we stand on the threshold of a major transformation: the intersection of analog frequencies and artificial intelligence (AI).
Ade Mardiyati, a freelance journalist and foreign media fixer, observes a stark change in listeners' behaviour across generations. If the generation born in the 1970s and 80s was accustomed to sitting quietly in front of the radio—listening to radio plays like the Mantili story with the power of imagination—today's generation grew up in the visual age.
The radio is no longer just the sound behind a wooden box or a car dashboard. The presence of AI is now redefining the way we interact with audio—from highly personalized music curation, clearer sound processing, to content automation that allows broadcasts to run 24 hours non-stop.
Although technology continues to evolve, the core of radio remains the same: human connection. The big challenge for us now is how to harness the sophistication of the algorithm without taking away the “life” and warmth that has been radio's main strength for so long. Let's explore how this harmony between sound tradition and digital innovation is shaping the future of world broadcasting.
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