AI Mayor

City creates an AI-based avatar speaking English to replace mayor | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

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YOKOSUKA, Kanagawa Prefecture--Mayor Katsuaki Kamiji readily admits he is hopeless at English, but that hasn’t deterred him from addressing the city’s many foreign residents in that language.

He is able to do that courtesy of a video of an avatar created with artificial intelligence in April that is posted on the Yokosuka city government website.

It is the first such attempt by a local government in Japan.

Confessing that he is “basically unable to converse in English,” Kamiji watched his avatar talking fluently in English.

“I was impressed because I felt as if I, myself, was speaking,” he said. “This will surely pluck at viewers’ heartstrings.”

Kamiji has good reason to want to get his message across in English as the city is home to the Yokosuka Naval Base, where thousands of U.S. personnel are based.

The mayor is seeking to impart important information in English, for example, if a natural disaster strikes.

Eventually, Kamiji hopes to convey local information in fluent English at his news conferences with the assistance of his computerized representation created by generative AI.

As of May, the city government said there will be a time lag of 10 days or so from when Kamiji gives a news conference to until the AI version is shared on the city’s official YouTube channel in English.

Officials said the primary aim of the exercise is to beef up the municipality’s ability to convey messages to the city’s many non-Japanese residents in a language they understand. The issue takes on heightened urgency in view of the heavy U.S. naval presence.

To make the postings appear more authentic, footage of the mayor talking in Japanese will be inputted so AI can better grasp his appearance, way of speaking, mannerisms and voice quality to complete his CG alter ego.

The avatar’s facial expressions and English language will reflect the emotions in the Japanese words and speak in a voice almost identical to his. The avatar’s mouth will move as if he was actually speaking English.

“We plan to use the system to convey not only information on disaster preparedness and emergencies but also message of peace to the rest of the world,” a city official said.