Talk To Photos With Wacky AI App That Turns Pictures Into Animated Chatbots

Between an app that put an Uncanny Valley face to ChatGPT, and now one that can turn any picture into a “person” you can talk to, artificial intelligence is taking a wild turn for the lonely.

Tokyo-based tech firm EmbodyMe has unveiled its latest creation: Xpression Chat, which fuses images and ChatGPT together, allowing users to engage in dialogues with pictures of individuals or characters.

The app will transform uploaded images into a talking avatar complete with a human-like voice (up to 50 different male and female options in different languages), which is meant to simulate an actual conversation. Although, from its demo video, the audio still sounds a little robotic.

That essentially means that everything from an old friend to a video game character to a loved one who has passed will now be there for you to talk to. 

Though, the implications of being able to revive someone from your past might bring a little comfort to some. If sci-fi has taught us anything, such technology is not always the answer when seeking to move on.

Not to mention, the ability to simulate relationships with anyone based solely on a photo raises concerns about privacy issues, especially when using pictures of celebrities or other people you know without consent.

That said, EmbodyMe seems to be using the tech to target businesses more than it is looking to comfort the lonely. It intends to provide SDKs for entities to use Xpression Chat in the virtual space, such as having an avatar on a website you can talk to for information or even on signage in the airport or in malls.

If you’re keen on testing it out, Xpression Chat is compatible with iOS and Android devices.

[via PetaPixel and DIY Photography, screenshot via EmbodyMe]