Zuckerberg Engages with AI Clone While Its Human Creator Observes in This Year's Most Unusual Demo

AI has already introduced us to some bizarre demonstrations, and, my friends, the strangeness is just beginning. As the tech world plunges headlong into the uncanny valley, boundaries are blurring, and things are set to become even more unusual.

Consider the recent Meta Connect keynote on Wednesday. Throughout the event, there was a consistent stream of presentations featuring Meta AI and Llama, but one demonstration stood out for its sheer oddity.

Mark Zuckerberg welcomed creator Don Allen Stevenson III to the stage. The Meta CEO then picked up a phone and engaged in a conversation with an AI-generated version of Stevenson, while the real Stevenson stood between Zuckerberg and a large screen displaying his digital likeness.

This demo highlighted AI Studio, a new platform designed for creating custom chatbots. Launched for U.S. creators in July, the program initially focused on text-only interactions. However, Wednesday's event showcased the platform's capability to allow creators to build virtual avatars of themselves.

“Managing numerous DMs can be overwhelming, and Creator AI has been helping me address a lot of my frequently asked questions,” Stevenson explained regarding his experience with the platform. “It really saves me time, allowing me to step outside and take a breather.”

The demonstration coincided with a presentation that featured chatbots voiced by celebrities such as Awkwafina, Dame Judi Dench, John Cena, Keegan-Michael Key, and Kristen Bell. The future promises even more intriguing developments.