The digital spokesman for the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is Victoria Shi, an avatar created by artificial intelligence. Shi was developed with artificial intelligence to give the Ukrainian government rapid updates on consular matters.
In Short
- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine presents Victoria Shi, an AI-generated avatar.
- Shi has been designated as the MFA of Ukraine’s digital representative.
- Shi’s material is prepared and reviewed by human diplomats, but her appearance is created by artificial intelligence.
Is AI replacing humans? Yes, beyond basic AI chatbots like ChatGPT and Meta AI, we are witnessing the advent of AI clones, AI news anchors, and now, for the first time, artificial intelligence representing a whole country. Well, that’s a discussion for other day. In a first for the diplomatic community, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine unveiled an AI-generated avatar as its digital spokesperson.
The ministry posted a brief video of Shi introducing herself on social media. Victoria Shi identified herself as a “digital person” in a presentation that was shared on social media while wearing a business-like dark suit. She imitates human conversation and expressions by moving her head and making hand gestures when she speaks. Shi reads the remarks, but it’s crucial to remember that human diplomats still write and verify the information.
According to the Ukrainian ministry, human staff develop and verify the claims, but artificial intelligence creates the visual element of Shi. The launch of Shi was welcomed by Dmytro Kuleba, the foreign minister of Ukraine, who noted that it is a “technological leap that no diplomatic service in the world has yet made,” noting the advantages of saving diplomats time and money. The development of the avatar shows how Ukraine’s foreign ministry uses cutting edge technology.
The Game Changers, a group that has already created virtual reality content about the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, developed Victoria Shi, according to the ministry of Ukraine. Shi’s primary goal is to increase efficiency by sparing human diplomats’ time and resources. Shi is a combination of the Ukrainian words “shtuchniy intelekt,” which means artificial intelligence, and “victory,” signifying the hopes of the country.
Shi’s voice and features are based on Rosalie Nombre, a singer who previously competed on the Ukrainian edition of “The Bachelor.” Nombre, who is originally from Donetsk, a city under Russian rule, took part in the initiative at no cost. With a sizable social media following, Nombre frequently talks about misconceptions regarding mixed-race and Russian-speaking Ukrainians.
Shi describes herself as a digital person in her introduction video and states, “We are taking a step into the future” with her appointment.
What is the job of the AI diplomat?
As an AI diplomat, Shi’s job is to notify the public about accurate and timely information, mostly from the diplomatic office of Ukraine. She also sends out information to press regarding consulates’ efforts to defend Ukrainian nationals’ rights overseas. In addition, Shi has over 54,000 followers on her Instagram account, where she talks about misconceptions regarding mixed-race Ukrainians and those who were raised speaking Russian.
Regarding potential abuse, the ministry has taken action against deepfakes and false information by attaching a special QR code to every one of Victoria’s statements. This code ensures legitimacy and credibility by linking to the ministry’s website’s official text version of the announcement.