Me vs My AI Twin: A Generative AI Experiment
“We speak with more than our mouths. We listen with more than our ears.” — Fred Rogers
Imagine if Fred Rogers had encountered an AI avatar of himself. It could breathe new life into those words of his. As I ventured into the realm of generative AI with my own avatar experiment, his words resonated deeply, guiding my exploration of digital communication and empathy.
As a mom and an educational product developer, I frequently assist parents in understanding and integrating emerging technologies into family life. My recent exploration involved AI image generation, using its errors as a springboard for discussions about the strengths and limitations of artificial intelligence. (PS: If my work is helpful, sign up for the newsletter or tell a friend!)
The AI Avatar Experiment
My latest experiment delved into AI-based avatars, using HeyGen, a platform to create videos with ai-generated avatars and audio. Generative AI, or genAI, refers to artificial intelligence that can generate new content, be it text, images, or even interactive experiences.
In this experiment, my goal was to create two videos: one of myself and one of my AI-generated avatar, both saying this script.
Social media poses a global crisis for youth, exposing them to harmful content, unsafe interactions, and mental health risks, urgently demanding interventions for their protection and well-being.
Betweened is an entertaining, empowering platform for kids to develop the digital literacy skills critical to navigating today's media landscape.
For the first video, I recorded myself with my iPhone. For the avatar video, I created a two-minute, unscripted video that HeyGen used to train their genAI model. Then I used their tools to generate the avatar video with the above script.
Here’s the results: Me vs AI Me
Also viewable on YouTube
Caption: A video of me and my generative AI avatar saying the same script that describes Betweened.
Engaging Kids and Teens in the AI Conversation
We’re all trying to wrap our heads around AI, including parents and teens, echoed in the Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI) report Generative AI: Emerging Habits, Hopes and Fears. Parents and teens are excited for the possibilities but share fears of genAI contributing to job loss, spreading of false information, loss of critical thinking skills (parents) and new forms of cyberbulling (teens).
Their guidance for parents:
engaging with genAI to embrace the learning curve,
keeping an open dialogue with kids about genAI’s risk and benefits,
and teaching teens to use genAI wisely, in a way that it enriches — not overtakes — their lives.
So to help you all embrace the learning curve… if you’re comfortable with the idea of an ai avatar, I’d recommend making a video with your kids. Or feel free to dissect my videos.
Conversation Starters
As you go through the experiment and watch the videos, consider these conversation starters:
Privacy Considerations: What should we consider before creating an avatar? How is our information used?
Understanding Incentives: Why might a company offer a free trial for an AI service?
Analyzing Tone and Non-Verbal Cues: How do vocal tone and body language affect the message's reception? (For example, I noticed my AI avatar looking down during serious topics, unintentionally conveying insensitivity. Or the lip sync is just enough off to cause a second look.) What would Fred Rogers say?
Discussing generative AI with your family can lead to deeper questions:
What positive and negative uses exist for this technology?
How can we recognize AI-generated content online?
What responsibilities do creators and platforms have in labeling and using AI ethically?
A Responsible Approach to Generative AI
Generative AI opens new horizons of possibility, but it also demands our careful guidance. In ushering our children through this digital frontier, we must ensure they become not only tech-savvy but also ethically conscious and emotionally intelligent. In the spirit of Fred Rogers, let's embrace technology with the full range of our humanity, speaking and listening with more than just words and ears.
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