It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of an AI.
At least, that’s what Jane Austen’s House thinks. The museum in Hampshire, England—where the author lived and worked—has teamed up with AI firm StarPal and the University for the Creative Arts (UCA) to create “Lizzy,” an AI avatar based on Austen’s Pride and Prejudice heroine Elizabeth Bennet.
“It is so exciting to finally be able to lift Elizabeth Bennet off the page and to be able to have real-time conversations with her,” said Sophy Smith, director of games and creative technology at UCA, in a press release.
“This technology has the potential to transform experiences within both the museum and heritage, as well the education sector,” Smith added, adding that the technology will enable museum visitors to “engage directly” with Austen’s character.
Creating Lizzy
The first step in creating an AI avatar was to pick a suitable fictional character.
“There are lots of AI avatars, but these were people that existed in the past,” Lauren Newport-Quinn, project manager for UCA’s Games and Innovation Nexus, told Decrypt. “We thought it’d be nice to do something with a fictional character, where no one’s been able to pick their brains before.”
AI avatars
AI avatars are increasingly being used to bring fictional characters, dead celebrities, and even digital twins to life. Earlier this year, AI firm Soul Machines created an avatar of Marilyn Monroe, while London-based developer Synthesia has created “Personal Avatars” that enable users to create a digital video duplicate of themselves that can be used on social media, in marketing campaigns and training videos.
British actor and musician FKA Twigs revealed in a U.S. Senate hearing earlier this year that she had created just such a digital twin, explaining that it is “not only trained in my personality, but […] can also use my exact tone of voice to speak many languages,” and that it could help her reach a more global fanbase.
But the question of who controls AI-generated likenesses has raised concerns. In October, a bipartisan group of U.S. Senators introduced the “No Fakes Act,” which aims to outlaw the creation of AI-generated likenesses without consent.
Edited by Ryan Ozawa.
Generally Intelligent Newsletter
A weekly AI journey narrated by Gen, a generative AI model.
As technology continues to advance, the creation of AI avatars opens up new possibilities for interacting with fictional characters and historical figures. The collaboration between Jane Austen’s House, StarPal, and the University for the Creative Arts to bring Elizabeth Bennet to life as “Lizzy” showcases the potential of AI in educational and cultural settings.
With AI avatars becoming more prevalent in various industries, questions about consent, control, and ethics arise. Legislation such as the “No Fakes Act” reflects growing concerns about the use of AI-generated likenesses without proper authorization.
Overall, AI avatars present exciting opportunities for immersive experiences, educational tools, and innovative storytelling. The future of AI in creating lifelike characters is full of promise and challenges, shaping the way we engage with digital personalities.
AI avatars
