The Ukrainian government has unveiled an AI-generated spokesperson who would not make official statements on behalf of the foreign ministry. On Wednesday (May 1), the foreign ministry said that this was the first time in history that it was using a digital spokesperson to read its statements.
The AI-generated spokesperson has been named Victoria Shi who introduced herself in a presentation posted on social media. The figure gesticulates with her hands and moves her head as she speaks.
According to a report by the news agency AFP, the foreign ministry’s press service said that the statements given by Shi would not be generated by AI but “written and verified by real people.”
‘A technological leap’
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Wednesday that Victoria Shi was a technological leap that no diplomatic service in the world has yet made. Foreign Minister Kuleba said that the main reason for creating the AI-generated spokesperson was to save time and resources for the diplomats.
Also watch | Race To Power: Artificial Intelligence risks in a global election year
Shi’s creators are a team called the Game Changers who have also made virtual-reality content related to the war in Ukraine.
Bot’s appearance, voice modelled on real person
AFP reported that Shi’s appearance and voice are modelled on a real person- Rosalie Nombre, a singer and former contestant on Ukraine’s version of the reality show The Bachelor.
👋 Meet Victoria Shi — a digital representative of the MFA of Ukraine, created using AI to provide timely updates on consular affairs!
For the first time in history, the MFA of Ukraine has presented a digital persona that will officially comment for the media. pic.twitter.com/KTtuCVR1ku
— MFA of Ukraine 🇺🇦 (@MFA_Ukraine) May 1, 2024
Nombre was born in the now Russian-controlled city of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine. The foreign ministry said that Nombre took part free of charge. It stressed that Shi and Nombre “are two different people” and that only the AI figure will give official statements.
To avoid fakes, the ministry statements will be accompanied by a QR code linking them to text versions on the ministry’s website.
(With inputs from agencies)
