What Most People Get Wrong About Real-Time Avatar Performance
When people evaluate digital humans, they often focus on the wrong thing, skin texture, facial detail, or photorealistic rendering. But in real-time conversational AI, realism isn’t primarily a graphics problem. It’s a performance problem. In this article, CodeBaby’s Creative Director explores why micro-movement, conversational timing, and subtle behavioral cues—not hyper-real visuals—are what truly determine whether an avatar feels natural, trustworthy, and human-centered.
Why Hospitality AI Must Feel Human Without Pretending to Be
Hospitality has always been about how guests feel—not how advanced the technology behind the scenes might be. As hotels, resorts, and entertainment venues invest in AI concierges and digital humans, many are focused on making these systems appear more human. But that may be the wrong goal. In this piece, Michelle Collins explores why hospitality AI should feel warm, clear, and supportive without pretending to be human—and why transparency, trust, and knowing when to hand off to a real person matter more than realism.
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.
AI in the Workforce: Stop Asking If It Will Take Your Job—Ask How It Can Make Your Job Better
Here’s the thing about the “Will AI take my job?” conversation: we’re asking the wrong question. It’s like asking whether a calculator will replace an accountant. Sure, it handles the arithmetic, but that just means the accountant can focus on analyzing trends, advising clients, and making strategic recommendations instead of adding up columns of numbers all day. The real question isn’t whether AI will replace workers—it’s whether we’re smart enough to deploy it in ways that actually help people do their jobs better.
Curing Online Health Care Provider CX Ailments
Horror stories aren’t limited to just streaming series and macabre writers. Customer experience nightmares can be brutal for a business. But the right CX solutions take the fear out of online support for health care providers.