Samsung Technology and Advanced Research Labs, also known as STAR Labs, has formally unveiled its “creepy” artificial human project, called Neon, MobilityArena can report. You can think of these virtual beings as digital avatars: These are computer-animated human likenesses, which are as deserving to be dubbed “artificial human” as Cortana or Siri.
What Are Samsung’s Artificial Humans All about?
Speaking on the announcement, STAR Labs CEO Pranav Mistry says, “Neon is like a new kind of life. There are millions of species on our planet and we hope to add one more.” “Neons are not AI assistants,” STAR Labs clarified. “Neons are more like us, an independent but virtual living being, who can show emotions and learn from experiences. Unlike AI assistants, Neons do not know it all, and they are not an interface to the internet to ask for weather updates or to play your favorite music.” They are made to engage in conversations and display human-like behavior. Additionally, the artificial humans are capable of forming memories and also learning new skills. These digital beings can function as financial advisers, teachers, health caregivers, spokespeople, concierges, actors, or TV anchors.
Privacy & Security Concerns Surrounding Samsung’s Neons
Owing to the human-like appearance and capabilities of the Neons, a number of concerns have been raised on whether this tech could be used for deepfakes — which are videos manipulated in a way that show real individuals saying or doing things they did not. Reacting to these insinuations, STAR Labs explained that even though a digital avatar could be based on a real person’s appearance, the tech behind Neons design is “fundamentally different from deepfake or other facial reanimation techniques.” Also, the company explained that it developed the technology taking ethical considerations of privacy and trust into account. The company stated it ensures data security by making use of “state-of-the-art security protocols,” adding that the only individuals that have access to a person’s interaction with a Neon artificial human are the person and the Neon. Also, Neons can never divulge private data without the user’s permission. The company is planning to beta-launch Neon later in the year and will partner with a number of firms around the world. The next best friend you will have might just be an artificial human — a Neon!
