Have you ever seen something so look so real, it’s disturbing? Well then you’ve already come across the ‘uncanny valley‘, or the phenomenon that is currently making its way through most AI systems. It was uniquely defined by 1970 as the strange hatred towards objects that appear nearly human, but not entirely.
Although starting small with robots, the sensation of an object that is “too real” is only increasing exponentially. Just take a look at the very human-like expressions made by ‘SEER’, a robotic head made to mimic a person’s facial expressions when shown to it:
Other prominent examples in the digital marketing world involve the rise of CGI social influencers such as Lil’ Miquela, Bermuda and Shudu. All pseudo socialites have the common trait of being ‘models’ with an aim to garner attention and make an impact on their followers. And why stop at only “appearing” like today’s insta-famous aristocrats? Lil Miquela — or the company behind her — have taken full advantage and managed to capitalise on this influence with endless brand promotions and upcoming music releases. I’d be lying if I didn’t admit her song “You Should Be Alone” is an absolute jam.
But what does this all imply for marketers? I can’t help but wonder if this is a breach of fair play. As if the idea of implementing CGI influencers is a form of manipulation towards the consumers if they’re constantly shown as “regular people”. On the other hand, how is it any different from a Kim Kardashian promoting problematic diet lollies? Or any other B-list celebrity with a ‘Fit Tea’ in one hand and a ‘Waist Trainer’ securely fastened on. In this case, one can’t possibly outweigh the other as for what’s more misleading.
What do you think? Do you think these artificial bots could make large strides in the way we receive our advertisements, or are they just plain creepy? Let me know in the comments section below!
The Why-Fi 
Hello there! I did mention this in the spotlight but I think knowing the ‘who’ behind these robots will give a sense of closure, as I would not trust these characters simply based on the role that they play. I think the same goes for “influencing”. If consumers are able to see past the artificial side of these robots then that will be a win for marketers.
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Hey
I don’t think that consumers will really get a say in who or what they will have to end up communicating with. There has been a rapid advancement in the area of AI and this is only going to increase into the future. Eventually it’s going to be very hard for consumers to distinguish between the two.
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