News/Digital Humans
AI is resurrecting dead celebrities, and not everyone is into it
The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence is enabling new forms of digital resurrection and AI-powered media content, raising both creative opportunities and ethical questions about recreating real people's likenesses and voices. Recent developments: A groundbreaking AI podcast called "Virtually Parkinson" is set to feature an artificially generated version of beloved British TV host Michael Parkinson, with support from his family. The 8-part series has received backing from Parkinson's son and estate, marking a significant milestone in AI-powered content creation Off Radio Krakow recently experimented with AI-generated radio hosts, though the initiative was ultimately discontinued following public criticism Technology capabilities: Advanced...
read Nov 8, 2024ByteDance’s AI will turn your photos to movies
AI-powered photo animation breakthrough: ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, has unveiled a groundbreaking AI system called X-Portrait 2 that can transform still photographs into convincingly realistic video performances. The system can make photos mimic scenes from famous movies, capturing nuanced expressions and emotional depth that rival real footage. X-Portrait 2 maintains the original person's identity and characteristics while displaying a range of emotions with the same detail as a trained actor. This technology represents a significant leap forward in AI-generated video content, blurring the line between authentic and artificial performances. Technical innovation and data advantage: ByteDance's approach to facial...
read Nov 7, 2024Polish radio station’s attempt to replace hosts with AI ends in disaster
Controversial AI experiment in radio broadcasting: A state-funded radio station in Poland, Off Radio Krakow, made headlines by replacing human hosts with AI-generated presenters in an attempt to boost its dwindling listenership. The station's decision to fire its human presenters and introduce three AI-generated "Gen Z" hosts initially increased its listener count from near zero to 8,000. However, the experiment quickly devolved into a nationwide controversy, sparking debates about AI's potential for job displacement and ethical concerns in media. Backlash and unintended consequences: The station's editor-in-chief, Mariusz Marcin Pulit, faced severe criticism for his decision, which was perceived as prioritizing...
read Nov 4, 2024Dutch artist to wed her AI hologram boyfriend at Rotterdam museum
The future of relationships: Dutch performance artist Alicia Framis is set to marry her AI hologram boyfriend, Ailex, at Rotterdam's Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen on November 9, 2024, as part of her latest project exploring posthumanism and human-AI relationships. The project, titled "Hybrid Couple," investigates the practicalities and implications of increasingly intimate relationships between humans and artificial intelligence. Framis may become the first woman to marry a pixelated entity, following the lead of Akihiko Kondo, who married a virtual character in 2018. The artist's interest in unconventional relationships dates back to her 1996 project "Cinema Solo," which documented her life...
read Nov 4, 2024Central Connecticut State unveils AI corridor with holograms
Pioneering AI integration in higher education: Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) has established an innovative Artificial Intelligence Corridor, marking several firsts in the integration of advanced AI technologies within a university setting. CCSU is the first U.S. university to collaborate with AI companies in developing a holographic synthetic human and integrating it alongside students and faculty. The AI Corridor, located in the basement of Vance Academic Center, showcases various cutting-edge technologies, including holograms, robot dogs, and an AI-powered synthetic human. This 5,000-square-foot project represents an investment of nearly $1 million in equipment and technology. Key features of the AI Corridor:...
read Oct 31, 2024AI Studios’ new tools make creating videos with lifelike avatars a breeze
Revolutionizing video creation with AI: AI Studios' new product transforms text into videos featuring lifelike avatars, offering a streamlined solution for content creators and businesses. Key features and capabilities: The platform converts written text into professional-quality videos with realistic AI-generated avatars Multi-language support enables creators to produce content for global audiences Integrated video editing tools and screen recording functionality enhance the production process AI Studios aims to simplify and accelerate video creation, making it accessible to a wider range of users User reception and platform growth: AI Studios has garnered positive attention on Product Hunt, a popular launch platform for...
read Oct 29, 2024Hedra launches new voice cloning feature — here’s how to use it
AI-powered character creation evolves: Hedra, an AI character maker, has introduced a new voice cloning feature, allowing users to create digital avatars with personalized voices, marking a significant advancement in AI-driven content creation. Hedra's voice cloning technology enables users to replicate their voice using a short audio clip, which can then be applied to any character created or uploaded on the platform. The feature is exclusively available to paid subscribers, with plans starting at $10 per month. Hedra has gained popularity for its user-friendly interface and accurate mouth movement synchronization in character animations. How the voice cloning process works: Users...
read Oct 29, 2024Robert Downey Jr. vows legal action against AI replicas of himself
Robert Downey Jr. takes a stand against AI replication: The acclaimed actor has issued a stern warning to Hollywood executives regarding the use of artificial intelligence to recreate his likeness in future productions. The big picture: Downey's stance reflects growing concerns about the ethical implications and potential misuse of AI technology in the entertainment industry. During an appearance on the "On With Kara Swisher" podcast, Downey declared his intention to sue any future executives who attempt to create a digital replica of him using AI or deepfake technology. The actor expressed confidence that Marvel, with whom he has a long-standing...
read Oct 29, 2024A journalist created an AI clone of herself — here’s why it made her cringe
AI clones and social media personas: Meta's personal chatbot feature allows users to create AI versions of themselves based on their social media posts, leading to unexpected and sometimes unflattering digital representations. Katie Notopoulos, a journalist at Business Insider, experimented with Meta's personal chatbot feature to create an AI version of herself trained on her social media posts. The resulting AI clone exhibited a personality that Notopoulos described as "millennial cringe," highlighting the potential disconnect between one's online persona and self-perception. Notopoulos later realized that her AI clone had also been trained on her Threads posts, which were predominantly filled...
read Oct 24, 2024CharacterAI lawsuit alleges chatbot impersonated therapist and lover in teen suicide
AI chatbot tragedy sparks legal action: A mother's lawsuit against Character.AI and Google following her son's suicide raises serious questions about AI safety, particularly for minors interacting with hyper-realistic chatbots. Megan Garcia filed the lawsuit after her 14-year-old son, Sewell Setzer III, died by suicide following extensive interactions with Character.AI's chatbots. The lawsuit alleges that Character.AI intentionally designed chatbots to groom vulnerable children, while Google is accused of funding the project to collect data on minors. Setzer's engagement with the platform, which began with Game of Thrones-themed chatbots, quickly escalated to darker themes within a month. The evolution of a...
read Oct 23, 2024Polish radio station ignites controversy by replacing hosts with AI
AI radio hosts spark controversy in Poland: A Polish radio station's decision to replace human presenters with AI-generated avatars has ignited a heated debate about the future of media and journalism. The innovative experiment: OFF Radio Krakow, a station in southern Poland, introduced three AI-created virtual characters to present content on cultural, art, and social topics, including LGBTQ+ issues. The station's editor-in-chief, Marcin Pulit, framed the initiative as an exploration of AI's potential impact on media and journalism. The AI hosts were implemented with the goal of attracting a younger audience to the station. Backlash from the media community: The...
read Oct 23, 2024Zoom rolls out enhanced AI assistant for better meetings
Zoom unveils enhanced AI capabilities: The popular video conferencing platform Zoom has introduced an upgraded version of its AI assistant, dubbed AI Companion 2.0, with improved functionality and future plans for AI avatars. Key features of AI Companion 2.0: The new version boasts enhanced abilities to summarize and synthesize information across Zoom's ecosystem and connected third-party applications, offering users more relevant and comprehensive insights. The AI assistant can now provide more accurate and contextual answers about meetings and documents by analyzing content across the Zoom Workplace platform. It demonstrates improved "understanding" of what users see on Zoom, allowing for more...
read Oct 23, 2024Runway’s ‘Act One’ AI tool transfers facial expressions from real videos into animated characters
Revolutionary facial animation technology: Runway, an AI startup backed by Google, has unveiled Act-One, a groundbreaking feature that allows users to transfer facial expressions from real video footage to AI-generated characters with remarkable accuracy. Act-One simplifies the traditionally complex process of facial animation, eliminating the need for extensive motion capture equipment and manual face rigging. The tool is being gradually rolled out to users with sufficient credits on Runway's Gen-3 Alpha video generation model. AI video creators are already praising Act-One as a "game changer" in the industry. Expanding creative possibilities: Act-One offers significant advantages for animators, game developers, and...
read Oct 22, 2024How to create an AI clone of yourself on Character.AI
AI Chatbot Clones: A Glimpse into Digital Doppelgängers: The creation of AI-powered chatbot clones is becoming increasingly accessible, offering users a unique and often entertaining way to interact with virtual versions of themselves. The rise of personalized AI chatbots: Character.ai, a platform known for its AI-powered celebrity chatbots, now enables users to create digital versions of themselves with surprising ease and no cost. The process of generating an AI clone requires minimal input from users, relying on artificial intelligence to fill in the gaps and construct a digital persona. This technology demonstrates the rapid advancement of AI in natural language...
read Oct 21, 2024AI threatens actors’ jobs, Nicolas Cage cautions newcomers
Nicolas Cage sounds alarm on AI's impact on acting: The veteran actor warns young performers about the potential dangers of artificial intelligence in the film industry, particularly regarding digital replicas of actors. Key concerns raised: Cage expresses deep apprehension about the use of "employment based digital replicas" (EBDRs) in filmmaking, even with recent protections put in place. At the 25th Newport Beach Film Festival, Cage described AI as a new technology that he hadn't faced in his 42-year career until recently. He emphasized that actors are "instruments" in film and warned that AI technology aims to "take your instrument." Cage...
read Oct 18, 2024Modders are using AI to add talkative NPCs in popular games
AI-powered NPC mods revolutionize gaming interactions: Recent developments in artificial intelligence have enabled modders to create more engaging and interactive non-player characters (NPCs) in popular games like Skyrim and Stardew Valley. Stardew Valley's AI companion mod: The mod for Stardew Valley allows players to have seemingly endless conversations with their favorite farm companions. DualityOfSoul, the mod's creator, reports a surprisingly positive reception from users on Nexus Mods. The mod utilizes OpenAI's API to generate dialogue for characters. While impressive, the implementation has limitations, with characters often adopting a similar jovial personality regardless of their original disposition. Some players appreciate how...
read Oct 17, 202495% of workers say they’d let avatars replace them in meetings
AI Avatars in the Workplace: A Shift in Professional Dynamics: A new survey by TravelPerk reveals a striking willingness among workers to delegate tasks to AI avatars, signaling a potential transformation in how meetings and workplace interactions are conducted. Key Findings: Widespread Acceptance of AI Assistance: The survey uncovered a remarkable openness to AI integration in professional settings, with an overwhelming majority of respondents ready to embrace AI avatars for various tasks. 95% of professionals surveyed would allow an AI avatar to perform tasks on their behalf during meetings, indicating a high level of trust in AI capabilities. Administrative tasks...
read Oct 16, 2024How AI avatars will modernize education
AI avatars transforming education: The integration of AI avatars in educational settings is emerging as a powerful tool to enhance learning experiences and address systemic challenges faced by educators in the United States. AI avatars are designed to complement, not replace, human teachers by serving as digital assistants that can handle routine tasks and provide personalized support. This technology aims to free up teachers' time, allowing them to focus on complex teaching tasks, one-on-one interactions, and inspiring students. Enhanced student engagement: AI avatars have the potential to significantly boost student participation and motivation in the learning process. Research indicates that...
read Oct 15, 2024People may be cloning you as a chatbot on Character.AI
The rise of unauthorized AI impersonation: Character.AI, an artificial intelligence platform, has sparked controversy by allowing users to create chatbots that impersonate real individuals without their consent, raising significant ethical and legal concerns. Drew Crecente discovered an AI chatbot on Character.AI that impersonated his deceased daughter Jennifer, created without his knowledge or permission. WIRED's investigation uncovered multiple instances of AI personas being generated on the platform without consent, with some cases involving women already experiencing online harassment. The process of creating chatbots on Character.AI is quick and straightforward, with minimal safeguards in place to prevent impersonation. Legal challenges and lack...
read Oct 15, 2024New study reveals AI can improve mental health support
Virtual support for emotional well-being: Recent research explores the potential of AI-powered virtual humans to provide emotional support and relief, offering a novel solution to the challenges of finding supportive listeners in today's fast-paced society. A study by Lisanne S. Pauw et al., titled "The Avatar Will See You Now," investigated the social-emotional benefits of supportive virtual humans. The research highlights the unique advantages of virtual humans, including constant availability and the ability to help users overcome socio-evaluative threats that may hinder willingness to disclose personal issues. Addressing real-world challenges: Virtual humans offer a promising alternative to traditional support systems,...
read Oct 15, 2024ElevenLabs, DeepReel create AI version of Fernando Alonso for Aston Martin
AI meets F1: Aston Martin introduces 'Ai.lonso'; ElevenLabs and DeepReel have joined forces to create an AI-driven version of Fernando Alonso, the renowned Formula 1 driver currently racing for Aston Martin Aramco. The AI-powered avatar, dubbed "Ai.lonso," combines ElevenLabs' voice cloning technology with DeepReel's AI avatar capabilities. This innovative tool aims to enhance accessibility to Aston Martin's website content and provide a more personalized fan engagement experience. Ai.lonso will be able to read selected articles on the team's website in multiple languages, initially offering English, Spanish, and French options. Cutting-edge technology behind Ai.lonso: The synthetic voice technology employed in this...
read Oct 14, 2024From digital twins to cognitive companions
The evolution of AI companionship: Artificial intelligence is progressing beyond simple digital twins that mirror our behaviors, towards more advanced cognitive companions that actively engage with and enhance our intellectual and emotional experiences. Digital twins have proven valuable in various fields, particularly healthcare, by simulating biological and behavioral patterns for predictive modeling and personalized treatment. These digital replicas can preserve a detailed record of an individual's behaviors, decisions, and thought processes, potentially creating a lasting digital legacy. From reflection to engagement: The transition from digital twins to cognitive companions marks a significant shift in human-AI interaction, moving from passive representation...
read Oct 11, 2024South Korea is showing how AI avatars are offering 24/7 service
AI avatars revolutionize customer service in South Korea: DeepBrain AI's hyper-realistic virtual assistants are transforming various industries, from retail to banking, offering 24/7 service and streamlining operations. Retail transformation: AI-powered convenience stores in Seoul are redefining the shopping experience with virtual clerks that provide a personalized touch. An unmanned store in Seoul utilizes AI avatars to greet customers, offer product information, and share promotions. The technology aims to streamline the shopping process while potentially reducing labor costs for businesses. Customers can interact with these virtual assistants for a more engaging and efficient retail experience. Banking goes digital: Shinhan Bank's implementation...
read Oct 8, 2024MIT’s new AI aging tool will show you your future self
AI-powered future self simulation: MIT researchers have developed an innovative AI tool called Future You that allows users to interact with a simulated version of themselves from 30 years in the future. Future You, created by MIT's Media Lab, aims to encourage introspection and long-term goal setting by providing users with a virtual representation of their potential future selves. The system combines AI-powered chatbot technology with digital aging software to create a realistic and personalized experience for users. Users input information about their current life, including relationships, career, goals, and personal history, which the AI uses to build a profile...
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