Since a few years, we¡¯ve been hearing the term AI or Artificial Intelligence and how it is trying to create its existence into our life -- through AI assistants on our phone or smart home devices. However, we know that no matter how many jokes Alexa cracks or how smartly Google Assistant answers -- they don¡¯t seem organic and natural -- they surely try but are nowhere close to the real deal.?
Samsung too tried to dab into the AI assistant trend with Bixby but failed miserably. But it looks like it now has a new trick up its sleeve that is truly going to revolutionise the way AIs will exist in our lives.
Developed by Samsung¡¯s STAR labs's Pranav Mistry, Samsung at CES 2020 unveiled the world¡¯s first ¡®artificial human¡¯ dubbed Neon. Now you might be thinking this is yet another fancy name for AI, but the company doesn¡¯t advertise it like that -- and from the looks of it, it doesn¡¯t seem like the conventional AI we are used to seeing either.
Neon is a computationally generated artificial being -- meaning that the human that is created by Neon has been created by a computer and while the digitally-generated human could look like someone, they¡¯re not really based on a specific face.?
Neon is designed to be artificial humans to help real humans lead a happy and convenient life. Neon communicates like real humans, collaborates for work and learns from its experiences. It has memories like humans too!
Now, if a computer is trying to be like a human, it would definitely need a processor powerful enough to handle this dynamism, and Samsung has developed those too. Neon is powered by Samsung¡¯s proprietary platform Spectra and Core R3.?
Core R3 is responsible to computationally create life-like reality. Basicaly it is responsible to make the artificial human seem realistic. It takes Behavioral Neural Networks, Evolutionary Generative Intelligence and Computational Reality to a whole new level to make a digital human look realistic -- from the way one reacts to the way one behaves in specific situations -- in real-time.?
Spectra, on the other hand, is a work in progress that tries to make this digital human more human-like. It will help Core R3 in the areas of Intelligence, Learning, Emotions and Memory. Spectra is expected to be unveiled to the world later this year.
Neons are designed to understand, have conversations and empathise just like a real human, they can assist with goal-orientated tasks or can be personalized to assist in tasks that require human touch. They can serve as a teacher in a digital avatar, a healthcare provider, a yoga instructor or a concierge at the hotel. A Neon is also capable of being an actor, a spokesperson, or a TV anchor. Companies or individuals would be able to subscribe to Neon as a service.
According to CEO of Star Labs, Pranav Mistry, ¡°NEON is like a new kind of life. There are millions of species on our planet and we hope to add one more. NEONs will be our friends, collaborators, and companions, continually learning, evolving, and forming memories from their interactions.¡±
He further added, ¡°We have always dreamed of such virtual beings in science fictions and movies. NEONs will integrate with our world and serve as new links to a better future, a world where humans are humans¡¯ and ¡®machines are humane¡¯.
While all this is cool, one can surely think of how many human jobs will this artificial human be impacting.?
Do you really think our world needs artificial humans like Neon? Would you like to use one for studying or fitness? Let us know in the comments below.