AWS, Digital Domain join forces to advance virtual human technology

Virtual human technology advances with Digital Domain and AWS collaboration: Digital effects studio Digital Domain has partnered with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to enhance and expand its Autonomous Virtual Human (AVH) technology.

• Digital Domain, known for its work on films like “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” and “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” aims to broaden the application of its AVH technology across various industries.
• The collaboration involves migrating Digital Domain’s AVH technology to the cloud and integrating AWS’s generative AI and machine learning tools.
• This partnership is expected to improve the scalability, performance, and global accessibility of the AVH technology.

Expanding applications and potential impact: The initiative seeks to extend the use of AVH technology beyond the entertainment industry, targeting sectors such as hospitality and healthcare.

• Digital Domain introduced a prototype virtual human named Zoey in 2022, showcasing the potential for real-time virtual human interaction in various applications.
• The company’s digital human work has a rich history, including the VFX Oscar-winning reverse aging effects for Brad Pitt in “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (2008).
• A partnership with airport hospitality firm Plaza Premium Group highlights the technology’s potential in customer service and engagement.

Technical enhancements and AWS integration: The collaboration leverages several AWS services to improve the capabilities of Digital Domain’s AVH technology.

• Amazon Bedrock and its foundation models are being utilized to enhance the technology’s performance.
• Amazon Polly is employed to improve voice outputs for virtual humans.
• Digital Domain is considering the use of Amazon Rekognition for facial recognition and video-based services.

Industry perspectives and expectations: Key figures from both Digital Domain and AWS have expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration and its potential impact.

• Daniel Seah, CEO of Digital Domain, described the partnership as a “significant milestone” for the company’s virtual human technology ambitions.
• Samira Bakhtiar, general manager of media & entertainment, games, and sports at AWS, emphasized the growing role of virtual humans across industries and the importance of making AVH technology widely accessible.

Broader implications for virtual human technology: The Digital Domain-AWS collaboration signifies a major step forward in the development and deployment of virtual human technology.

• This partnership could accelerate the adoption of virtual humans in various sectors, potentially transforming customer engagement and interactive experiences.
• The move to cloud-based infrastructure may enable more businesses and organizations to access and implement advanced virtual human technology.
• As virtual humans become more sophisticated and accessible, it could raise new questions about the ethical implications and societal impact of these technologies in everyday interactions.