First AI newsreader looks UNCANNILY like real deal
Can you tell the difference? First AI newsreader looks
UNCANNILY like real deal
IN a world first, a Chinese state news agency has created
a virtual newsreader that works 24/7 and says whatever it is told to.
By FREDDIE JORDAN 17:19, Thu, Nov 8, 2018
China: Xinhua agency unveils 'first AI news anchor'
The AI’s looks are closely modelled on a real news
anchor, and its lips are matched to frame each word that is programmed to come
out of its mouth.
The agency jokes that he works 24/7 without taking any
overtime.
Xinhua News claims the presenter can “read texts as
naturally as a professional news anchor”.
"I look forward to bringing you the brand new news
experiences."
Sogou, a major Chinese search engine, assisted with
development.
There is both an English and Chinese-speaking version
with different faces.
An artificial intelligence (AI) system has been used to
synthesise the presenters' voices, lip movements and expressions. They are
based on those of real Xinhua presenters.
The real newsreader is on the left and the artificial
intelligence is on the right.
Rather than creating a whole 3D model, the agency has
crafted a photorealistic version of the presenters and simply animated their
facial features.
Michael Wooldridge, a Professor at the University of
Oxford, said the result is mixed.
He explained: “It's quite difficult to watch for more
than a few minutes. It's very flat, very single-paced, it's not got rhythm,
pace or emphasis.
"If you're just looking at animation you've completely
lost that connection to an anchor.”
Noel Sharkey, a robotics professor at the University of
Sheffield, was slightly more impressed.
He said it was a “good first effort”.
“We will see it improve over time”.
“The problem is that it could be very dull.”
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