In a pioneering move within Japan’s local government, Yokosuka City in Kanagawa Prefecture has unveiled a unique initiative to connect with its English-speaking residents. An artificially intelligent avatar of Mayor Katsuaki Ujike has been crafted to deliver messages in English. This digital version of the mayor was released on the municipal website, aiming to cater to approximately 7,000 foreign residents and 20,000 individuals living on the U.S. Navy base in Yokosuka.
The highly realistic avatar emanates from the AI service called “Hejgen,” which utilized recorded press conferences to learn the mayor’s mannerisms and speech. The AI is so adept that it mirrors the mayor’s emotions in its Japanese speech, translating them into the English version as well, influencing not just the words but the facial expressions of the avatar.
The inaugural release features the mayor’s avatar discussing policies for promoting residency. The impressive reproduction captures the subtle nuances of mouth movements and facial expressions, enhancing the realism of the communication.
Moving forward, the city plans to use this avatar to broadcast information about various topics, including disaster response and tourism, although it will refrain from generating content not based on the mayor’s actual statements. Reflecting on the digital twin, Mayor Ujike expressed his surprise at the precise replication of his voice and shared his hope to refine this tool for effective communication within the international community.
Most Important Questions and Answers:
1. Why did Yokosuka City create an AI Mayor’s avatar?
Yokosuka City created the AI Mayor’s avatar to improve communication with its English-speaking residents, including the foreign populace and individuals living on the local U.S. Navy base, by providing them with accessible information in English on city policies, disaster response, and tourism, among other topics.
2. How does the AI avatar work?
The AI avatar, powered by the Hejgen service, uses recordings of the mayor’s press conferences to learn his mannerisms and speech patterns. It can replicate not only the mayor’s voice but also his emotions and corresponding facial expressions in both Japanese and the translated English messages.
3. What are some potential challenges or controversies with the use of an AI Mayor’s avatar?
Challenges may include ensuring the accuracy of translations and the AI’s capacity to handle complex inquiries. Additionally, there could be concerns about the reliance on technology for public communication and the potential reduction of direct human interaction.
Key Advantages:
– Enhances accessibility for non-Japanese speakers.
– Provides a personalized approach to public communication.
– Offers potential for rapid information dissemination, particularly in times of crisis.
Key Disadvantages:
– May face criticism about depersonalization of public service.
– Risk of the AI’s misinterpretation or loss of nuance in translation.
– Dependence on technology could lead to issues if there are malfunctions or downtime.
As this article introduces what appears to be a pioneering initiative, here are some related topics that could not be included due to the knowledge cut-off date:
– Developments in AI and its ethical considerations.
– The effectiveness of AI avatars in government relative to traditional communication methods.
– Public reception of the AI Mayor’s avatar and any changes in policy that resulted from its introduction.
As requested, any relevant links must be 100% valid and to the main domain. For further information on Yokosuka City or updates on the AI Mayor’s avatar initiative, one can visit the Yokosuka City official website: Yokosuka City. Additionally, to explore more about artificial intelligence applications in the public sector, interested individuals can visit the main website of the AI service provider, though since the name of the AI service “Hejgen” doesn’t correspond to an associated domain in the provided data, a valid URL isn’t included here.