Talking Photos: EmbodyMe’s Xpression Chat Lets You Have Conversations with Your Favorite Celebrities and More
Just when you thought AI photo apps couldn’t get any creepier, along comes one that lets us talk with people in photos. The Japanese company EmbodyMe’s Xpression Chat uses ChatGPT and a library of 50 voices to allow ‘conversations’ with photographs of anyone – really anyone: celebrities, strangers, lost loved ones… even pets.
The company believes that this innovation has the potential for various business uses. For example, it could give faces to virtual sales reps, although one wonders if speaking to a chatbot with a face would be any less frustrating. However, let’s be honest, people are primarily going to use it to chat with their celebrity crushes. As humanity spirals towards an ever-bleaker scenario of tech-induced social isolation and disconnect from the real world, the opportunity to engage in stilted conversations with an RP-speaking Kanye West or any other idol is hard to ignore.
Xpression Chat: Lifelike Conversations with Photos
Available for Android and iOS, Xpression Chat allows users to upload a photo of any person to, in theory, have lifelike conversations with them. The app turns photos into moving avatars using the technology behind EmbodyMe’s existing Xpression Camera app, which can animate faces from photos. It integrates the AI chatbot ChatGPT and a library of voices to add another, more interactive layer to the experience.
Deliriously Creepy Possibilities
Even the company’s own promotion acknowledges the eeriness of the concept. “Imagine having intimate daily chats with your favorite celebrity as if they were your beloved,” it says. “Build the courage to declare your feelings to your secret love by practicing with their interactive image. Delve deeper into your connection with your pet, or reminisce fondly by engaging in conversation with a dearly missed grandparent.” While it may be intriguing, one can’t help but pity the poor teenager whose secret love doesn’t respond the same way as ChatGPT.
In addition to ChatGPT’s often uncanny responses, there are the accents to get accustomed to. With fifty voices to choose from, it may seem like a lot, but considering that this includes a range of languages, the options become limited. For instance, the Portuguese footballer used in the company’s demonstration ends up with a curiously British-sounding voice. Moreover, users can define details about the person in the photo, including character traits, which suggests the ability to give celebrities some truly wild personality transplants.
Business Applications and Hopes
EmbodyMe reveals that its Xpression Camera app has already been utilized in meetings and live streams, although the specifics remain undisclosed. Looking ahead, the company aims to pitch Xpression Chat software developer kits for Android, iOS, Windows, and Mac to businesses. This would enable them to create virtual representatives for various applications, websites, or digital signage. The potential for avatars to provide directions in airports while communicating in multiple languages is an intriguing prospect. Perhaps we’ll see John Lennon virtually guiding travelers around Liverpool John Lennon Airport, although after the disappointing John Lennon AI we witnessed a few months ago, nothing would surprise me.
Price and Availability
Xpression Chat is free to use with a default image up to five times a day. For unlimited photos and chats, users can opt for a premium membership costing $7.99 per week or $79.99 per year. A lifetime subscription is also available for $244.99.
Conclusion
EmbodyMe’s Xpression Chat takes AI photo apps to a whole new level of creepiness by allowing users to have conversations with people in photos. While it may have potential business applications, it’s more likely that people will use it to chat with their favorite celebrities and indulge in tech-induced social isolation. As the line between reality and virtual interactions continues to blur, the strange yet intriguing possibilities of Xpression Chat may captivate many.
Editor Notes
Technology constantly finds ways to push the boundaries of what was once unimaginable. EmbodyMe’s Xpression Chat is a prime example, offering a unique and somewhat eerie experience of conversing with photos. While it may be entertaining and enticing, it’s essential to remember the value of genuine human connections. As we embrace the innovations that AI brings, let’s not lose sight of the importance of real-life interactions. In a world that can feel increasingly disconnected, let’s cherish the moments that remind us of our shared humanity.
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