Samsung’s AI-powered Neons are digital avatars that may replace TV anchors one day 

Samsung calls m Neons. Samsung says Neons are straight out of future. Neons may well be future, if Samsung’s initial bout of teasers are anything to go by. But unless Samsung drops more information, which it is expected to in next few days at ongoing CES 2020, Neons will remain more hype than substance. 

That hype also carries with it a pinch of concern. Let me explain. Neons are supposed to be “artificial humans,” you kw kind of stuff sci-fi movies have long conjured. And many of se artificial humans have had a history of turning against us humans – taking our jobs, taking our lives, ruling earth, and what have you. You kw drill. 

So, when STAR Labs CEO Pranav Mistry begins his case (for se artificial humans) with statement, “re are millions of species on our planet and we hope to add one more,” you’re bound to be both awed and scared at same time. Especially when Samsung subsidiary isn’t telling “eugh” about what it’s up to inside its closed quarters. Forgive me for being a little sceptic.  

Neons - Bixby with a face?

For, this is how it usually begins. Samsung describes Neons as “computationally generated” avatars seemingly capable of conversing with you – master? - on a level that’s said to be both “emotional and intelligent.” ir behavior may have been modelled after real humans, but Samsung says Neons will display whole new expressions, dialogs, and emotion – what, how, why, we don’t kw yet - with latency of less than a few milliseconds. That last bit will be decisive factor. Samsung would want Neons to be able to respond instantaneously.  

Neons don’t seem very scary at this point of time – or until time Samsung reveals more. At best, y seem like Siri with a face, maybe? Or Bixby? I hope it’s t Bixby. underlying tech is called Core R3 and while we still don’t kw much about it, Samsung says it’s “fundamentally different from deepfake or or facial reanimation techniques.”

It’s what se Neons will be able to do in future that will have consequences though. “In near future, one will be able to license or subscribe to a Neon as a service representative, a financial advisor, a healthcare provider, or a concierge. Over time, Neons will work as TV anchors, spokespeople, or movie actors; or y can simply be companions and friends,” says Samsung. So, go figure. And again, forgive me for being a little sceptic. 

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