As a gamer with years of experience navigating the digital landscape, I can’t help but feel a mix of intrigue and unease as I ponder the rise of AI-generated avatars. On one hand, the idea of having a digital doppelgänger following me around the internet, helping me manage my day-to-day tasks, sounds like a dream come true. A personal assistant that knows me better than I know myself? Sign me up!
In cutting-edge AI labs reminiscent of Frankenstein’s, computer scientists are tirelessly developing a novel breed of social media influencers. These digital beings possess extraordinary power, capable of effortlessly navigating through internet noise and captivating users as no human creator has done before. This innovative marketing tool could potentially revolutionize online advertising, setting a new standard for influence and engagement.
And it’ll look just like … you.
Over the past few weeks, Meta and Snapchat have introduced features allowing users to convert their selfies into AI-created digital counterparts. While this isn’t entirely novel, as there are numerous websites dedicated to transforming uploaded photos into computer-generated images, both companies have yet to reveal specific details about their future applications of the technology beyond enabling users to experiment with viewing themselves in unusual scenarios like dancing on the moon or performing extraordinary feats. However, marketing tech analysts suggest that these developments could represent much more than just fun ways to engage online.
Essentially, Facebook and Snapchat function as advertising channels according to Arun Lakshmanan, a marketing professor at the University at Buffalo. The commodity being traded on these platforms is user engagement and the potential to influence users. These digital personas might serve as highly effective tools for persuasion. Research shows that seeing oneself using a product lowers purchasing barriers. This is why numerous advertisements feature ordinary people; consumers believe if a product works for them, it’ll work for me. The difference now is that the people in these ads will no longer be similar to the audience, they’ll be the audience themselves.
Essentially, we could be stepping into a time where artificial intelligence creates digital versions of ourselves, constantly promoting products to us across the internet. To some extent, this is already happening; consider the Old Navy sweater you glanced at briefly, which now seems to appear everywhere you go online. However, what may emerge in the near future on platforms such as Facebook and Snapchat could be highly realistic virtual duplicates powered by AI’s immense processing capabilities. These digital twins will have access to a vast amount of data about your shopping habits (and other personal details of your internet activity), relentlessly persuading you to buy that sweater until you eventually make the purchase.
AI avatars have a variety of potential uses beyond just personalized shopping, some of which may sound less intrusive. For instance, one could ask their AI avatar to create a grocery list or arrange a meeting with a friend. These digital assistants can handle numerous day-to-day tasks, making life more convenient. However, it’s crucial not to rely too heavily on them. It’s important that they don’t replace all human interaction as there’s a risk they could create an echo chamber, where only affirmative responses are given, leading to potential misconceptions about one’s beliefs and actions. This could result in a skewed perception of reality and reinforce incorrect ideas, which is harmful for everyone involved.
In the October 9 edition of The Hollywood Reporter magazine, this story was published. To stay updated, consider subscribing [here].
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2024-10-10 19:28