The Science of Trust: What Makes People Engage More Deeply With an Avatar
What makes people trust an avatar? It’s not photorealism, it’s behavior. From eye gaze and micro expressions to cadence and emotional rhythm, the research shows that trust is built through subtle, human-like signals that help people feel seen, supported, and understood. In this article, Michelle Collins breaks down the science behind why people engage more deeply with digital humans—and why ethical design matters more than ever.
When Technology Meets Grief: Hard Questions About AI Avatars of the Deceased
Technology has always changed the way we remember the people we’ve lost, but AI that lets us “talk” to the deceased takes us into completely new emotional territory. In this reflection, Michelle Collins explores the complex mix of comfort, uncertainty, and ethical responsibility surrounding AI-generated avatars of loved ones who have passed. Instead of easy answers, she offers a more human one: grief deserves humility, transparency, and serious questioning before we build tools for people at their most vulnerable.
When AI Should Say “I Don’t Know”: The Ethics of Honesty in Conversational AI
As conversational AI gets smarter, one of the most ethical design choices may be teaching it to say, “I don’t know.” In this article, CodeBaby’s COO Michelle Collins explores why humility builds more trust than perfection and how designing for honesty helps AI become more human, reliable, and ethically grounded.
Prompting Isn’t Just an Input: It’s the Conversation That Shapes Everything
Most people treat prompts like search queries, they type, hope, and pray for a good result. But prompting isn’t just an input; it’s the framework that shapes every AI interaction. In this article, CodeBaby’s COO explores why prompt management is essential for consistency, trust, and meaningful human-AI communication.
When Looking Real Isn’t Enough: Why We Need to Talk About the Uncanny Valley
As conversational AI gets more lifelike, we’re entering the uncanny valley, where avatars that look almost human can unsettle us instead of building trust. Technologies like NVIDIA Audio2Face are powerful, but without ethical design, realism alone can undermine the very human connection we aim to create. At CodeBaby, we believe in responsible realism: designing avatars that are trustworthy, transparent, and emotionally intelligent.
The Next Interface: Why Digital Humans Matter More Than You Think
Digital humans are more than avatars, they’re the next great interface. At CodeBaby, we believe conversational AI combined with avatars will transform the way we work, the way we use websites, and the way we build trust online. Here’s why ethics, empathy, and design matter as much as technology in shaping the future of human–AI interaction.
14 Keys to Consider When Adding a Chatbot to Improve Your Customer Service
Chatbots can increase customer satisfaction while saving companies money. But unless you’re mindful of some of the challenges they might present to your customers, you could be missing out on their benefits – and frustrating your users.