How I Let My AI Clone Take Over My Life for 24 Hours | WSJ
Have you ever wondered if you could clone yourself? That might sound like something out of a science fiction movie, but with the latest advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), it's becoming more of a reality. Companies like Synthesia and ElevenLabs are using AI to create avatars that look and sound just like real people. But what does this mean for our future? Can we trust AI to take over our lives?
The Rise of AI Avatars
AI-generated text and images have already made it difficult to distinguish between what's real and what's fake. But now, AI is advancing even further with voice and video cloning. This technology has the potential to blur the lines between reality and AI even more.
In a recent video by Joanna Stern from The Wall Street Journal, she took on the challenge of replacing herself with an AI clone for a day. Using a startup called Synthesia, Joanna created an AI avatar that looks and moves like her. The process involved recording her head movements and voice, which were then used to train an AI neural network.
Challenges and Results
Joanna set out to see if her AI clone could complete four challenges in her place. The first challenge was making a phone call to Evan Spiegel, the CEO of Snap. Joanna's AI clone chatted with Evan about the future of AI, and surprisingly, Evan couldn't tell that he was talking to an AI voice. Even Joanna's own sister was fooled when she received a call about her deceased fish.
The second challenge was creating a TikTok video. Joanna used chatbot-generated text and her AI voice to create a TikTok about an iOS tip. While the final video was impressive, TikTok users were quick to notice that the avatar lacked arm movement and facial expressions.
The third challenge involved using the AI voice to pass through bank biometrics. Joanna successfully bypassed security questions using her voice, but when an intern impersonated her, the system asked for further verification. This shows that while AI voices can be convincing, they are not foolproof.
The fourth and final challenge was participating in a video call. Joanna used her AI avatar to join a Google Meet call, but her colleagues quickly realized that something didn't seem right. The avatar's posture and lack of jokes gave it away.
Lessons Learned
While Joanna's AI clone was successful in some challenges and failed in others, it's clear that AI voices are becoming quite good at mimicking human voices. This technology has the potential to save time and automate certain tasks. However, there's also a risk of misuse. Scammers could use AI voices to impersonate people and deceive others.
Companies like Synthesia and ElevenLabs take precautions to prevent misuse. Verbal consent and permission are required to create avatars, and the companies claim to have measures in place to identify and prevent misuse. Nevertheless, it's important for individuals to be vigilant and cautious when interacting with AI-generated content.
In conclusion, the rise of AI avatars presents both opportunities and challenges. While they can be useful in certain situations, we must remember to stay human and be aware of the potential risks. As AI continues to advance, it's up to us to navigate this new reality and ensure that we can distinguish between what's real and what's AI.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is AI cloning?
AI cloning involves using artificial intelligence to create avatars that resemble and mimic real people. This includes replicating their appearance, movements, and voice.
How does AI voice cloning work?
AI voice cloning works by training an AI neural network with recordings of a person's voice. The network learns to mimic the person's voice patterns, tone, and speech style, allowing it to generate new sentences and phrases in the person's voice.
Are AI avatars indistinguishable from real people?
While AI avatars are becoming increasingly realistic, they are not yet indistinguishable from real people. Certain limitations, such as lack of facial expressions and subtle nuances, can give them away.
How can AI voice cloning be misused?
AI voice cloning can be misused for impersonation and deception. Scammers could use AI voices to manipulate and fraudulently obtain personal information or deceive others into believing they are someone else.
What precautions are taken to prevent misuse of AI avatars?
Companies like Synthesia and ElevenLabs require consent and permission from individuals before creating avatars. They also claim to have measures in place to identify and prevent misuse of their AI technology.
