VOA文化艺术2023--Fans of K-pop Star Can Talk with His AI Twin

Fans of K-pop Star Can Talk with His AI Twin

Listeners want to feel close to the musicians they support. And most would jump at the chance to talk with their favorite artist one-on-one. But famous people rarely have the time for that kind of meeting.

So what is the next best thing?

For Mark Tuan, whose new recording¹ Fallin is out Friday, it was creating a digital avatar.

The Taiwanese-American entertainer from Los Angeles, California is a former member of the Korean group Got7. He partnered with Soul Machines to create a "digital twin" called "Digital Mark."

In doing so, Tuan became the first famous person to attach their likeness² to the artificial³ intelligence (AI) program OpenAI's GPT. The technology permits fans to talk one-on-one with Tuan's avatar.

"It's very different. It's not really me, but it is me," he says of Digital Mark. "It's a cool thing, that fans get to interact⁴ with him, too."

Greg Cross is head of Soul Machines. He views Digital Mark as the future of fan interaction⁵. Cross said we are only at the beginning of how this technology will change how fans interact with famous people and companies.

Tuan's hope with Digital Mark is that as the technology progresses, so too will fans' relationships with his AI twin. He also hopes that they will get to communicate with him in languages beyond English.

Getting Digital Mark to look like and act like the real Mark Tuan involved a lot of work. Tuan had to spend several days filming in a bodysuit to capture⁶ his movement. He made different faces so the Digital Mark could capture his emotions. And he spent a lot of time recording his voice as well.

Right now, Digital Mark just stands in one place. But Tuan says that maybe one day they will have Digital Mark walking around too.

The technology is in its early days. Tuan says Digital Mark has been talking about a musical event that does not exist. But he is hopeful to see how the avatar will progress.

Fans have already been using Digital Mark to interact with Tuan about event dates and new music.

As for concerns over how this kind of technology could be used in the future, Tuan is hopeful but has some concerns.

"I've seen a lot of movies where robots take over the world," he jokes. "You never really know what's going to happen, but I think it is really cool."

Words in This Story

digital – adj. using or characterized⁷ by computer technology

avatar – n. a picture of a person or an animal that represents a particular computer user⁸, on a computer screen, especially in a computer game or on social media

twin – n. either one of two babies that are born at the same time to the same mother

cool – adj. very fashionable, stylish⁹, or appealing in a way that is generally approved of especially by young people

interact – v. to talk or do things with other people

bodysuit – n. a piece of clothing that fits tightly and covers the body except for the legs and sometimes the arms

1 recording   

n.录音，记录

参考例句：

• How long will the recording of the song take?录下这首歌得花多少时间？
• I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。

2 likeness   

n.相像，相似（之处）

参考例句：

• I think the painter has produced a very true likeness.我认为这位画家画得非常逼真。
• She treasured the painted likeness of her son.她珍藏她儿子的画像。

3 artificial   

adj.人工的，人造的，人为的；做作的，假装的

参考例句：

• The new dam will form a large artificial lake behind it.新筑的水坝将会在后面形成一个人工湖。
• We don't use any artificial flavourings in our products.我们的产品不使用任何人工调味剂。

4 interact   

vi.相互作用，相互影响，互通信息

参考例句：

• All things are interrelated and interact on each other.一切事物互相联系并相互作用。
• The policeman advised the criminal to interact with the police.警察劝罪犯与警方合作。

5 interaction   

n.交流；相互作用，相互影响，合作

参考例句：

• The interaction of the two groups produced many good ideas.两个组的相互交流产生了许多好主意。
• Price is determined through the interaction of demand and supply.价格在供需的相互作用中形成。

6 capture   

vt.捕获，俘获；占领，夺得；n.抓住，捕获

参考例句：

• The company is out to capture the European market.这家公司希望占据欧洲市场。
• With the capture of the escaped tiger,everyone felt relieved.逃出来的老虎被捕获后，大家都松了一口气。

7 characterized   

adj.[医]具有特征的v.是…的特征( characterize的过去式和过去分词 )；以…为特征；描述（人或物）的特性；使…具有特点（或最引人注目的特征）

参考例句：

• Mozart's music is characterized by its naivety and clarity. 莫扎特的音乐特色是纯朴兴清澈。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The world situation is characterized by turbulence and intranquility. 世界局势动荡不安。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

8 user   

n.用户，使用者

参考例句：

• The company is the biggest user of oil.该公司是最大的石油用户。
• The umbrella keeps the rains off the user.雨伞使撑伞人免受雨淋。

9 stylish   

adj.流行的，时髦的；漂亮的，气派的

参考例句：

• He's a stylish dresser.他是个穿着很有格调的人。
• What stylish women are wearing in Paris will be worn by women all over the world.巴黎女性时装往往会引导世界时装潮流。