The Rise of AI Clones: A Glimpse into the Future of Digital Avatars

The Rise of AI Clones: A Glimpse into the Future of Digital Avatars
Photo by Mika Baumeister / Unsplash

In an era where technology continually pushes boundaries, the latest experiment by Joanna Stern from WSJ showcases the remarkable advancements in AI-generated avatars. With the ability to create digital replicas that look, move, and even speak like their human counterparts, we are entering a new age of artificial intelligence. In this blog post, we will delve into Joanna's intriguing journey of challenging her AI clone to replace her for 24 hours and explore the implications, possibilities, and challenges presented by these AI avatars.

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In this video, Joanna Stern from WSJ takes on the challenge of replacing herself with an AI avatar for a day. She begins by explaining the rationale behind this experiment, citing the increasing capabilities of AI-generated text, images, voices, and videos that make it challenging to distinguish between what's real and what's fake. Joanna introduces her AI avatar, created by a startup called Synthesia, and details the process of recording head movements and a script to train the AI. She also explores a different AI tool called ElevenLabs for voice improvement. Joanna then embarks on four challenges to test the capabilities of her AI clone, including making phone calls, creating a TikTok video, testing bank biometrics, and participating in video calls. The results vary, with some challenges succeeding while others fall short. Joanna concludes by highlighting the potential benefits and risks associated with AI avatars and the need to remain vigilant in distinguishing between real and AI-generated content.

The Quest to Replace Reality

Joanna Stern's endeavor began with a profound observation – AI tools capable of generating text and images have already blurred the lines between reality and fiction. With the emergence of AI-generated voice and video, the boundaries become even more ambiguous. Thus, the idea to replace herself with AI for a day took root. Joanna crafted four unique challenges to test the capabilities of her AI clone, aiming to free up more time for her personal pursuits.

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Crafting the Perfect Avatar

Before diving into the challenges, Joanna introduced us to her AI avatar, crafted by a startup named Synthesia. The avatar-making process involved recording head movements and reading a pre-written script, followed by an extensive audio recording session. The combination of these elements served as training data for AI neural networks. While the result was impressive, Joanna also explored another tool, ElevenLabs, which enhanced her AI voice further.

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Challenges and Their Outcomes

  1. Phone Calls: Joanna embarked on scheduled phone calls with real people using her AI voice, including a chat with Evan Spiegel, the CEO of Snap. Surprisingly, most people were initially convinced that it was Joanna on the line, illustrating the power of AI voices to mimic human speech effectively.
  2. Creating a TikTok: Crafting a TikTok video with her AI avatar proved to be a mixed bag. While the technology allowed her to create content without physically shooting it, TikTok users discerned subtle imperfections in the avatar's movements and facial expressions.
  3. Bank Biometrics: Some banks use voice recognition for authentication. Joanna's AI voice successfully passed this test, demonstrating the potential risks associated with voice mimicking technology.
  4. Video Calls: Attempting to substitute her AI avatar in video calls fell short. Participants quickly identified the hologram-like quality of the avatar and its inability to convey humor or natural body language.
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Implications and Ethical Considerations

Joanna's experiment sheds light on the rise of AI clones and their potential applications. While they hold promise in saving time and resources, the risk of misuse, such as scam calls or identity theft, looms large. Both Synthesia and ElevenLabs require consent, but the responsibility lies with users to ensure ethical use of such technology.

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Conclusion: Staying Human in a Digital World

In the wake of these advancements, one thing is clear – the distinction between real and AI is growing thinner. As we navigate this evolving landscape, staying vigilant and discerning becomes crucial. While AI avatars offer convenience, they also raise ethical questions. In the end, Joanna leaves us with a thought-provoking message: "Stay human, everyone."

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