Audiovisual Interactive Companionship; The Next Breakthrough in Computers

Abstract

New developments in voice and facial video generation suggest we are at the verge of a new breakthrough in audio and visual interactive companionship. Today's computer-interactive voices (Alexa and Google Assistant) are largely repetitive, robot-like, and all-knowing, sometimes making them tiring and monotonous. The challenge is to better simulate the human voice and personality, with a face generating the voice. Covid and sprawling cities are making people increasingly isolated. A game or program on TV can be better enjoyed when accompanied by a computer companion. Other than companionship for entertainment, there can be companionship for therapy, such as at a hospital or at an old-age home. Personalities of famous people such as scientists, statesmen, actors, and sportsmen can be recreated. The computer voice can be a training ground for social etiquette for children and adults. A simulated baby voice can be used for training would-be parents. A simulated patient's voice can be used for training doctors and nurses. With videoconferencing being the new norm in these times of Covid, the simulated voice and video will appear more real than before. The bonding of humans with the computer voice raises ethical questions about whether this could become addictive, and whether details of the interaction can be used by the company and the government. Ominously, can the simulated voice of a child become the face of the government, using the data to profile or even arrest users? Could the government use the voice to inspire users to be hard working, law abiding, and tax-paying citizens? It is expected that market forces will prevail, and companionship with the computer voice and video will prevail. We must find ways to regulate computer voice, video and companionship for the greater good.