Embracing the Future: My Digital Clone and the New Horizon of AI
In today's fast-paced world, technology is not just a tool; it's an extension of ourselves. As an executive constantly seeking innovation to solve some of my clients greatest challenges, I've taken my first step into the future of digital cloning by creating a basic AI avatar of myself. This AI avatar is a reflection of my voice and likeness. It serves as a bridge between my thoughts and you, my valued readers. In this post, I'll share the reasons behind this decision, how I did it, and what I believe it signifies for the future.
Why a Digital Clone?
Life is busy: Creating videos with my actual self would be time-consuming and costly. Using my digital clone saves me time, allowing me to focus on what truly matters: my clients.
Enhancing Content Generation: AI tools like ChatGPT help me delve deeper into subjects, generating insights and knowledge that would otherwise take weeks. While not exactly a digital clone like my AI Avatar, it seems to understand my interests and objectives. Most importantly, it's a creative partner that shapes and expands my thinking.
For You, My Site Visitors: My AI avatar, or 'deep fake,' offers a more personal way to share my interests and knowledge. It's a glimpse into a future where digital clones become a reality, summarising content in a more engaging audio/video format.
How Did I Create My AI Avatar/Digital Clone?
With the assistance of cutting-edge technology, I used Eleven Labs for duplicating my voice and D-ID AI for animating an avatar created using MidJourney and a face swap tool by Insight Face. It's a blend of art and science, a testament to human innovation.
The script, like my blog posts, is a collaboration between myself and ChatGPT.
The Future of Digital Clones
A Second You: Imagine a future where your digital clone summarises news, manages mundane tasks, or even becomes your personal sales assistant. It's about efficiency, learning from how you think and work, and handling tasks like research and admin work.
Shifting Customer Preferences: With a move towards efficiency, digital clones could answer initial client questions or even book a table at a restaurant. It's a future where human interaction may become less necessary.
The Impact of Digital Clones: Research Insights
Increasing Productivity and Efficiency: Digital clones free up professionals to focus on creative aspects, handling tasks like answering queries and scheduling [1]. The booming market for virtual humans, predicted to reach $527.58 billion by 2030, reflects the growing applications in entertainment, business, and retail [6].
Enhancing Skills and Knowledge: They can provide insights and recommendations, improving performance or decision-making [2]. Digital clones foster personal growth, allowing individuals to learn from them and expand their understanding [5].
Expanding Reach and Impact: Digital clones enable professionals to reach a wider audience, offering services in different languages or formats [3]. They can transcend geographical boundaries, sharing unique talents and insights with a broader audience [5].
The Future of Meetings and Communication: Digital cloning is transforming the way we conduct meetings and communicate in the business world. The process of creating a digital clone is only going to become more accessible [6].
Ethical and Societal Implications: The rise of digital clones brings ethical considerations, such as consent, ownership, and potential misuse. Society must navigate these complexities and ensure responsible use [4].
Conclusion
My journey into the world of digital clones is more than a technological experiment; it's a vision of a future where AI becomes an integral part of our lives. It's about embracing change, enhancing efficiency, and connecting with you, my readers, in a more personal way.
[1] Diederich, J. (2021). Digital Clones. In The Psychology of Artificial Superintelligence, Cognitive Systems Monographs, volume 42. Springer, Cham.
[2] Enderle, R. (5 May, 2023). Building a digital clone or assistant with generative AI — good idea or bad? Computerworld.
[3] Various contributors (Wikipedia). Digital Cloning. Wikipedia.
[4] Dance, J. (12 June, 2023). Can we digitally clone ourselves with AI? Mythical AI on Substack.
[5] Dual, T. (28 March, 2023). The Rise of the Digital Clone in the Age of Chat GPT-4. MoreThanDigital.
[6] Agard, S. (9 Jan, 2023). Don't show up to the next meeting? Send your 4K AI-based "metahuman" clone instead. Interesting Engineering.
