OUR TECHNOLOGY
JOURNEY

Explore the evolution of Neural Newscast's content generation system from NNC 1.0 to today's advanced 3.0 platform.

Timeline and History

JULY 2024

NNC Takes Its First Steps

Neural Newscast was initiated, first hosted on iono.fm. This initial setup highlighted the need for automation, as it required manual daily publishing steps. Towards the end of July, a pivotal transition was made to Transistor.fm. This move enabled leveraging their API for automated publication of daily news episodes and the scheduled release of other shows, laying the groundwork for NNC 1.0.

NNC 1.0

AI Personalities & Python Core

The first iteration, NNC 1.0 (detailed in the section below), was hosted by AI personalities "Andy Logic" and "Sara Synax". The core of this version was built on Python, focusing on news aggregation, AI-driven curation, and automated episode production.

JANUARY 2025

The Dawn of NNC 2.0

Work commenced on NNC 2.0. This phase involved a significant Python rewrite aimed at improving overall content quality and introducing several replacement voices to the audio pipeline. While an advancement, NNC 2.0 still relied on Python as its backbone.

NNC 2.5

Ad-Hoc Episodes & "NNC Create"

NNC 2.5 marked the introduction of an enhanced web interface for generating ad-hoc episodes. This iteration leveraged Resemble.ai for additional voice capabilities, including that of our founder, Chad Thompson, allowing for rapid production without traditional recording sessions.

The script generation tool, dubbed "NNC Create," enabled scripts to be written and then voiced using a selection of Azure, Google, OpenAI, or Resemble voices.

The first episode created with this technology was "Oracle Cybersecurity: Unpacking Recent Incidents with Expert Insights from Chad Thompson".

NNC 3.0 (INITIAL)

Node.js Power & Advanced Scripting

NNC 3.0 began with a strategic rewrite of "NNC Create" using Node.js. This shift allowed for more finite control and introduced block-based editing for scripts. Producers gained the ability to manually generate scripts and edit granular details or allow AI to write scripts based on provided content. Voicing options expanded further, incorporating Azure, Google, Resemble, and the latest OpenAI voice models, which also allowed for voice characteristic modifications via instructions. The first episode published using this revamped NNC Create system was "India-Pakistan Tensions: Operation Sindoor and the Path to Peace".

NNC 3.0 (CURRENT)

Full Orchestration & Future Shows

In its current phase, NNC 3.0 encompasses not only the web-based ad-hoc script creation system but also includes a fully rewritten daily news summary and deep dive episode orchestration system, producing high-quality episodes daily. The first daily episode published using this newly created Node.js system was on May 13th, 2025, titled "Breaking Stories and Global Updates: May 13, 2025". This marked the first time that the previously used Python scripting had been fully replaced. Post May 13th, 2025, all new ad-hoc and daily episodes are published with the new Node.js platform. Building upon this robust technology, we are actively developing a show creation system. This will empower the creation of entirely new shows, such as "Nerfed.ai" (video game news and reviews) and "Stereo Current" (music news and reviews), further expanding the Neural Newscast universe.

The Evolution of Neural Newscast

The Neural Newscast project has undergone significant evolution since its inception, reflecting our commitment to leveraging technology to deliver timely and engaging news content. Our journey spans three transformative phases:

NNC 1.0: The Python Beginnings

Neural Newscast 1.0 leveraged a sophisticated, custom-built Python-based system to bring timely news summaries. At its heart, the system intelligently gathered information from a wide array of trusted news sources, including Inoreader, dedicated news APIs, and RSS feeds.

Episode Creation Pipeline

News Aggregation:

Smart algorithms and AI categorized stories, identified significant developments, and filtered redundancies.

Script Generation:

Detailed scripts with virtual reporters, transitions, and natural handoffs for comprehensive coverage.

Audio Production:

Professional mixing with custom intros, outros, and background music for broadcast quality.

Technology Stack

Core Engine:Python
AI & NLP:OpenAI GPT
Voice Synthesis:Google & Azure TTS
Publishing:Transistor.fm

Neural Newscast 1.0 was a testament to how cutting-edge AI and automation could be harnessed to deliver reliable, engaging, and timely news content with precision and care.

NNC 2.0: Web Technologies & Content Refinement

Neural Newscast 2.0 marked a significant step forward with a substantial Python backend rewrite and the introduction of a PHP-based frontend. This hybrid approach improved content quality, expanded AI voice variety, and laid the groundwork for sophisticated content management features.

Enhanced Scripts

Improved quality and naturalness

Voice Variety

Expanded AI voice options

Web Interface

PHP frontend for management

NNC 2.0 Web Interface Example

NNC 2.0 web interface for content management

NNC 3.0: Node.js Power & Advanced Generation

The current era represents a major leap in content generation capabilities, driven by Node.js adoption for our core pipeline. This strategic shift enabled a more efficient, scalable, and robust system with advanced AI workflows and sophisticated editing tools.

Multi-Stage AI Workflow

Content aggregation from diverse sources
AI-powered story selection & rewriting
Cohesive script assembly with structure
Final AI review for quality assurance

Block-Based Editor

Real-time TTS previews
Drag-and-drop editing
Audio asset management
NNC 3.0 Web Interface Example

NNC 3.0 advanced interface for episode generation

Technology Ecosystem

JS
Node.js Core
AI
OpenAI GPT-4o
DB
Supabase
UI
Next.js & React

NNC 3.0 represents the culmination of our technological evolution, featuring automated workflows that move from news aggregation to published episodes with unprecedented speed and quality.