In news that journalists around the world are perhaps loath to report, China has just unveiled another non-human that is set to steal their jobs.

China's state-run news agency, Xinhua, today unveiled "the world's first female AI news anchor" to read alongside its male AI news presenters.

Dystopian? Maybe not. But it is unsettling for those who are reporting.

Named Xin Xiaomeng, the perfectly coiffed broadcaster was developed jointly by Xinhua and search engine company Sogou, and was shown off in a video on social media on Thursday.

Apart from a few stiff facial muscles, Xiaomeng is remarkably life-like, complete with hand adjustments while on camera, and just enough on-cue blinking.