︎What is Synthetic Media?︎

“Synthetic media is a new form of virtual media produced with the help of artificial intelligence (AI). It is characterized by a high degree of realism and immersiveness. Furthermore, synthetic media tends to be indistinguishable from other real-world media, making it very difficult for the user to tell apart from its artificial nature. It is possible to generate faces and places that don't exist and even create a digital voice avatar that mimics human speech...

The key takeaway is that synthetic media is a new kind of media that is getting more realistic and easier to handle. Moreover, they combine traditional media and digital means, making the whole thing capable of fantastic results. That's how synthetic media will bring the movie experience we all crave–but better.

Over the next few years, we expect that customers will continue to embrace technological advances most innovatively and practically possible. Companies will need to continue to develop new technologies and keep up with the pace of change to maintain profitable operations.

The global industry will continue to be dominated by several major players who can innovate and be flexible. Innovation has been the key driving force behind business growth over the past years and will likely remain so for years.”

-https://www.thedigitalspeaker.com/what-is-synthetic-media-ultimate-guide/







︎An Example of Synthetic Media︎

Virtual Influencers / Virtual Avartars

1. Lil Miquela




2. Imma




3. Shudu

• Why do you consider this synthetic media?

I consider virtual influencers as a significant outcome of various synthetic media. One of the advantages of virtual influencers is especially maximized during Covid when real people are often restricted from moving, but virtual influencers can appear in several places at once without being limited by time and space. Also, it can reduce production costs as well as they are free from concerning health and aging.

• What can you find about how this was made (if you can)? If it’s machine learning based can you find information about the data set used to train it?

“Powered by algorithms and computer graphics, they attract a legion of loyal fans partly because, unlike their CGI counterparts, AI virtual influencers can interact with their followers without human intervention. They pick up on human language and behaviour, becoming more human-like as they go.”

https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25433900-800-the-rise-of-computer-generated-artificially-intelligent-influencers/

• What are the ethical ramifications of this specific example (if any)?

It is difficult to reduce the gap between real humans and them because they are virtual characters. Limited virtual world leads make it difficult for consumers to feel authenticity in communication. It is also difficult to ask who should be socially responsible when virtual influencers make comments or remarks that undermine ethical and moral values. It is also difficult to ask who should be socially responsible when virtual influencers make comments or remarks that undermine ethical and moral values. Concerns exist that this can create and misapply biased political and social virtual figures.

Response:
The Machine Stops & Can Fake Images Show Us Something Real?

In the world of "The Machine Stops," everyone lives only in a private room shaped like a hive and placed underground. You can hear all kinds of news, eat food, and enjoy entertainment with just one button in the room. All the work is also done remotely. It's a 100% non-body contact society.

The people in the story don't meet each other, or maybe they don't feel like there's a need to. There's also transportation, an airship, but it is a burden and more expensive to remove now, so people just leave it as it is.
Kuno wants his mother to come and visit him where he lives in the northern hemisphere, as he wishes to see the stars, not from an airship, but while standing on the surface of the earth. However, Vasthi, the mom, refuses to go to see him, as she is reluctant to leave her room and feels like there's no reason to physically see him.

It is impressive that the writer could predict the world and write his novel reflecting the current situation and technologies from 100 years ago. Moreover, as he expects, human contact has become something to be viewed with suspicion and even fear during the pandemic. There is one moment when Vashti is on board the airship, and she almost falls, but, rather than being thankful to the crew member for saving her, she is angry with her for behaving so 'barbarically.' The writer tells us that the 'custom' of people touching one another has become obsolete in the story and the future as well.

It also questions whether technology is beneficial or negatively impacts people's lives. Also, what is enough of the development of technology?