Navigating The New World Of AI Representation
Recently, a 'person' addressing a New York appellate court captured a lot of attention—not based on what they said, but because they were not actually a live person at all. The online testimony was delivered by an AI-generated human representative. This wasn't just some bizarre legal maneuver; it was a glimpse into the future.
Plaintiff Jerome Dewald didn't have a lawyer, so he turned to AI and created someone who could be more articulate than he believed himself to be (for disclosure, he used an early version of my company's technology, which we learned through the media).
Dewald's use case highlights some interesting points: People's comfort level with AI is clearly increasing; AI has become more advanced, with new conversational qualities; and AI has the potential to be an equalizer, giving everyday people 24/7 access to the help they need but couldn't receive otherwise.
The incident represents a pivotal moment. Generative AI is transitioning from something entertaining to a tool that could fundamentally change how humans interact with complex systems.
Not Another Demo
Although AI-generated 'people' aren't new—we've seen deepfakes, digital influencers and synthetic media for years—the quality has improved exponentially. I'm not just talking about how they look and speak; I'm talking about how they think, reason, feel and respond to information. Simply put, AI humans are growing a central nervous system, enabling them to be used in even the most formal settings, like a New York courtroom, where authenticity is paramount.
Dewald's reasoning for using an early version of this technology was surprisingly practical. He wasn't trying to deceive. Rather, he wanted to offer a more polished version of his arguments without his "usual mumbling, stumbling and tripping over words" and to avoid speaking for an extended period, which has been difficult for him after battling throat cancer. He wanted to deliver the best possible version of himself.
AI-generated humans are moving from theoretical to practical. Users are finding innovative applications without waiting for formal frameworks or permissions, and I believe that type of experimentation will increase as AI agents become more advanced.
Dewald's digital proxy was used in a pre-recorded presentation, but new interfaces can simulate and initiate true interactions. They're no longer mere "talking heads" reading scripts or 'dumb' avatars. Instead, they interpret information at a deep level and respond in real-time with stunning emotional intelligence, opening the door to a wide range of use cases.
For example, AI interviewers can scale preliminary candidate screenings while providing a more engaging experience. Mortgage brokers are deploying AI representatives to explain complex loan options to clients, and they are available 24/7 without the pressure of sales quotas. Medical practices can also implement AI intake personnel to gather patient information, potentially reducing wait times and administrative burden on healthcare providers.
Additional business applications may increase engagement and customer satisfaction by creating a new level of connection, not to mention the emotional, behavioral and contextual insights that AI humans can collect to help unlock better decisions, personalization and product tuning.
But new applications aren't just about efficiency and insights; they're about accessibility. When implemented thoughtfully, AI humans can also democratize access to services previously limited by cost, geography or availability—and this is just the beginning.
I believe we'll soon see AI video equipped with a humanlike face, voice and brain increasingly leveraged in specialized, highly regulated domains, including:
• Therapeutic Support: While not replacing licensed therapists, AI therapists could provide consistent emotional support and check-ins for those with limited access to mental health resources.
• Legal Guidance: AI representatives could help explain legal documents, guide people through standard processes and potentially assist with court proceedings (when properly disclosed in advance).
• Sales And Training: AI humans can help with everything from higher-level engagement and understanding to greater conversion and NPS scores through personalized journeys and experiences.
By removing the constraints of human availability and cost barriers, responsibly deployed AI humans could be transformative for millions of people and businesses around the world.
It May Be Inevitable, But It's Not Perfect
As next-level AI video agents become more realistic, and thus more widely used, transparency will be imperative. Watermarking and design choices when creating a digital proxy can make it clear that the person you are interacting with is AI-generated. For example, when you ask one of our representatives who they are, they are hard-wired to disclose if they are AI.
Privacy protections must also be implemented. Users should not be allowed to clone others without consent. However, stock replicas can allow people to build their ideal character (i.e., a butler persona could be created to serve as an assistant). Safeguards can be applied to ensure the integrity of the representation. My company, for example, uses voice ID and multistep verification to ensure only a user can create a replica of themselves.
Additionally, the most effective AI implementations should have technical guardrails enabled and maintain human review of critical decisions. This is necessary, especially when intangibles like emotions, experiences and values are involved. AI humans should be used to handle and scale routine interactions while escalating, flagging or summarizing specific, more complex situations for live experts to take over.
Expect new regulations as well. Thoughtful regulation is not a bad thing. It can ensure that guardrails are equally applied while adding legitimacy to generative AI applications. Innovators need to be a part of the conversations that shape not only the regulatory landscape, but also the culture around AI—because we're often the first to see both the potential and the risks.
Moving Forward
Every day, people are pushing AI's boundaries faster than institutions can adapt. Rather than fight innovation, let's channel it with flexible frameworks that protect core values while allowing beneficial applications to flourish.
Businesses need to invest in both technological capabilities and safeguards, while policymakers must develop guidelines that protect against misuse, encourage innovation and expand access.
For the rest of us, let's accept that AI personas may eventually be a part of our lives and use them to our advantage.
Forbes Technology Council is an invitation-only community for world-class CIOs, CTOs and technology executives. Do I qualify?
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
25 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Red Rock Resorts (RRR) Reports Q2: Everything You Need To Know Ahead Of Earnings
Casino resort and entertainment company Red Rock Resorts (NASDAQ:RRR) will be announcing earnings results this Tuesday after the bell. Here's what investors should know. Red Rock Resorts beat analysts' revenue expectations by 0.6% last quarter, reporting revenues of $497.9 million, up 1.8% year on year. It was a satisfactory quarter for the company, with an impressive beat of analysts' EPS estimates but a miss of analysts' Casino revenue estimates. Is Red Rock Resorts a buy or sell going into earnings? Read our full analysis here, it's free. This quarter, analysts are expecting Red Rock Resorts's revenue to be flat year on year at $485.4 million, slowing from the 16.9% increase it recorded in the same quarter last year. Adjusted earnings are expected to come in at $0.41 per share. Heading into earnings, analysts covering the company have grown increasingly bearish with revenue estimates seeing 4 downward revisions over the last 30 days (we track 10 analysts). Red Rock Resorts has missed Wall Street's revenue estimates three times over the last two years. Looking at Red Rock Resorts's peers in the consumer discretionary segment, some have already reported their Q2 results, giving us a hint as to what we can expect. Monarch delivered year-on-year revenue growth of 6.8%, beating analysts' expectations by 5.4%, and Boyd Gaming reported revenues up 6.9%, topping estimates by 5.4%. Monarch traded up 20.4% following the results while Boyd Gaming was also up 4.1%. Read our full analysis of Monarch's results here and Boyd Gaming's results here. There has been positive sentiment among investors in the consumer discretionary segment, with share prices up 10.3% on average over the last month. Red Rock Resorts is up 8.9% during the same time and is heading into earnings with an average analyst price target of $57.77 (compared to the current share price of $56.64). Unless you've been living under a rock, it should be obvious by now that generative AI is going to have a huge impact on how large corporations do business. While Nvidia and AMD are trading close to all-time highs, we prefer a lesser-known (but still profitable) semiconductor stock benefiting from the rise of AI. Click here to access our free report on our favorite semiconductor growth story. StockStory is growing and hiring equity analyst and marketing roles. Are you a 0 to 1 builder passionate about the markets and AI? See the open roles here. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
25 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Johnson Controls (JCI) Q2 Earnings Report Preview: What To Look For
Building operations company Johnson Controls (NYSE:JCI) will be announcing earnings results this Tuesday morning. Here's what you need to know. Johnson Controls beat analysts' revenue expectations by 0.7% last quarter, reporting revenues of $5.68 billion, up 1.4% year on year. It was a strong quarter for the company, with an impressive beat of analysts' adjusted operating income estimates and a solid beat of analysts' organic revenue estimates. Is Johnson Controls a buy or sell going into earnings? Read our full analysis here, it's free. This quarter, analysts are expecting Johnson Controls's revenue to grow 1.9% year on year to $6.01 billion, in line with the 2.1% increase it recorded in the same quarter last year. Adjusted earnings are expected to come in at $1.01 per share. The majority of analysts covering the company have reconfirmed their estimates over the last 30 days, suggesting they anticipate the business to stay the course heading into earnings. Johnson Controls has missed Wall Street's revenue estimates six times over the last two years. Looking at Johnson Controls's peers in the building products segment, some have already reported their Q2 results, giving us a hint as to what we can expect. Insteel delivered year-on-year revenue growth of 23.4%, beating analysts' expectations by 2.2%, and AZZ reported revenues up 2.1%, falling short of estimates by 3.2%. Insteel traded down 5.8% following the results while AZZ was up 5.2%. Read our full analysis of Insteel's results here and AZZ's results here. There has been positive sentiment among investors in the building products segment, with share prices up 6.8% on average over the last month. Johnson Controls is up 5.1% during the same time and is heading into earnings with an average analyst price target of $109.70 (compared to the current share price of $111). Here at StockStory, we certainly understand the potential of thematic investing. Diverse winners from Microsoft (MSFT) to Alphabet (GOOG), Coca-Cola (KO) to Monster Beverage (MNST) could all have been identified as promising growth stories with a megatrend driving the growth. So, in that spirit, we've identified a relatively under-the-radar profitable growth stock benefiting from the rise of AI, available to you FREE via this link. StockStory is growing and hiring equity analyst and marketing roles. Are you a 0 to 1 builder passionate about the markets and AI? See the open roles here.
Yahoo
25 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Armstrong World (AWI) Reports Earnings Tomorrow: What To Expect
Ceiling and wall solutions company Armstrong World Industries (NYSE:AWI) will be reporting earnings this Tuesday before market hours. Here's what to expect. Armstrong World beat analysts' revenue expectations by 3.4% last quarter, reporting revenues of $382.7 million, up 17.3% year on year. It was a strong quarter for the company, with a solid beat of analysts' adjusted operating income estimates and an impressive beat of analysts' EBITDA estimates. Is Armstrong World a buy or sell going into earnings? Read our full analysis here, it's free. This quarter, analysts are expecting Armstrong World's revenue to grow 10.5% year on year to $403.6 million, slowing from the 12.2% increase it recorded in the same quarter last year. Adjusted earnings are expected to come in at $1.78 per share. The majority of analysts covering the company have reconfirmed their estimates over the last 30 days, suggesting they anticipate the business to stay the course heading into earnings. Armstrong World has only missed Wall Street's revenue estimates once over the last two years, exceeding top-line expectations by 1.9% on average. Looking at Armstrong World's peers in the building products segment, some have already reported their Q2 results, giving us a hint as to what we can expect. Valmont delivered year-on-year revenue growth of 1%, beating analysts' expectations by 1.7%, and Sherwin-Williams reported flat revenue, in line with consensus estimates. Valmont traded up 7.9% following the results while Sherwin-Williams's stock price was unchanged. Read our full analysis of Valmont's results here and Sherwin-Williams's results here. There has been positive sentiment among investors in the building products segment, with share prices up 6.8% on average over the last month. Armstrong World is up 4.7% during the same time and is heading into earnings with an average analyst price target of $170.56 (compared to the current share price of $170). Here at StockStory, we certainly understand the potential of thematic investing. Diverse winners from Microsoft (MSFT) to Alphabet (GOOG), Coca-Cola (KO) to Monster Beverage (MNST) could all have been identified as promising growth stories with a megatrend driving the growth. So, in that spirit, we've identified a relatively under-the-radar profitable growth stock benefiting from the rise of AI, available to you FREE via this link. StockStory is growing and hiring equity analyst and marketing roles. Are you a 0 to 1 builder passionate about the markets and AI? See the open roles here. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
