As AI is infiltrating every aspect of how we live and work, it increasingly looks or sounds like us. From virtual assistants that can hold conversations with natural intonation to digital avatars that replicate human facial expressions, AI is becoming more human-like in its appearance and behavior. Consider OpenAI’s recent launch of the Advanced Voice Mode in ChatGPT. It used real actors’ voices with lifelike tones, natural conversations, and emotional responses, aiming to make AI sound “warm, engaging, confidence-inspiring, [and] charismatic.” Likewise, Character.ai — the second most popular gen AI application — allows users to engage with fictional or historical characters like Librarian Linda, Elon Musk, or even Napoleon Bonaparte.
