Ukraine has a new spokesperson and “she” is a bit unusual.
The spokeswoman, named Victoria Shi, is generated by artificial intelligence and will deliver messages on behalf of the country’s foreign ministry, The Guardian reports.
Victoria is modeled after Rosalie Nombre, a singer who was also a contestant on Ukraine’s version of The Bachelor. But while Victoria is AI-generated, what she says will be “written and verified by real people,” according to The Guardian.
Victoria, who introduced herself as a “digital person” via a social media post this week can move her hands and head as she speaks, offering an exceptionally lifelike presentation.
The goal of using Victoria is to save time and resources for diplomats in Ukraine. She was created by a team called the Game Changers who also are responsible for some virtual reality content that has been created related to the war in Ukraine.
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Nombre, who lent her voice and image for AI Victoria did so free of charge. Victoria is thought to be the first digital spokesperson used to make a statement on behalf of a foreign ministry.
Ukraine has also already made some efforts to make sure Victoria isn’t easily impersonated. Whenever a video is posted by Victoria, that video will include a QR code that can be used to access a written version of the same message on the ministry’s website, allowing viewers to confirm its legitimacy.
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