The podcast format has largely remained the same since its inception in the early 2000s: short shows recorded by hosts and distributed digitally to entertain or bring listeners up to date on the news. As such, the Washington Post announced this week that it’s launching an AI-based podcast service that allows listeners to pick their own format and even their own disembodied AI host. A WaPo spokesperson told Digiday that users could eventually chat with their AI podcast hosts to ask for clarification. That’s actually the power here,” podcast advertising agency Adopter Media CEO Glenn Rubenstein told the outlet. '”More on WaPo: The Washington Post Is Secretly Planning to Start Publishing Articles Created Using AI