Chatbots Get a Star-Studded Makeover

Having a conversation with your favorite celebrity, but instead of being in person, you're talking to an AI chatbot that sounds just like them. Meta, the company behind Facebook and Instagram, has made this a reality with its new AI chatbot that can mimic the voices of celebrities like Judi Dench, Awkwafina, and John Cena. The chatbot, which has over 400 million users, can be set to respond in different voices, making it feel more like a real conversation. The idea behind this technology is to make interacting with AI more fun and natural. Users can choose from a variety of voices, including the ones mentioned above, as well as more generic options. The chatbot's responses are generated using artificial intelligence, but they can be read aloud in a way that sounds like a real person. In a demo of the technology, Meta's CEO Mark Zuckerberg spoke with the AI chatbot, asking it questions and getting responses in the voice of Awkwafina. The conversation felt surprisingly natural, with the AI chatbot responding in a way that was both informative and entertaining. The use of celebrity voices in AI chatbots is not a new concept, but it's gaining more attention as the technology becomes more advanced. Earlier this year, ChatGPT, a popular AI chatbot, faced controversy over its use of a voice that sounded eerily similar to Scarlett Johansson's. Johansson had previously declined to work with the company, but her voice was used without her consent. Meta's partnership with celebrities could be worth millions, according to reports. The company has not commented on the terms of the deals, but it's clear that the use of celebrity voices is a key part of its strategy to make AI chatbots more appealing to users.