Kiev entrusts its official foreign policy statements to a spokesperson created by artificial intelligence: the Ukrainian government presented to the public Victoria, a digital spokesperson, who “for the first time in history” will read official statements. Designed, written and verified by real human beings, he was keen to specify.
Dressed in a dark dress, the spokeswoman introduced herself on social media as Victoria Shi, a “digital person”. Artificial intelligence, explained the head of Foreign Affairs, Dmytro Kuleba, “helps us create only the visual part” with a result that is the result of a “technological leap that no diplomatic service in the world has yet made”.
There The choice was dictated by the need to “save time and resources” for the benefit of diplomats, he added. The creators of Shi are a team called Game Changers who have also made virtual reality content related to the war in Ukraine. The spokesperson’s name is partly inspired by the word “victory” and partly by the Ukrainian expression for artificial intelligence: ‘shtuchniy intelekt’.
Shi’s physical appearance and voice – which gestures and moves her head – are inspired by a real person: Rosalie Nombre, singer and former contestant of the Ukrainian version of the reality show The Bachelor. Nombre was born in the now Russian-controlled city of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine. She has 54,000 followers on her Instagram account, which she uses to discuss stereotypes about mixed-race Ukrainians and those who grew up as Russian speakers.
Nombre took part in the initiative without compensation, the ministry wanted to let it be known, which then clarified that Shi and Nombre “are two different people” and that – “only the figure of Artificial Intelligence will release official statements”.
To avoid falsification, declarations will be accompanied by a QR code that will link them to the text versions on the ministry’s website. Shi will release statements and information on consular services, currently considered a controversial topic. Last week, Ukraine suspended consular services for men of combat age living abroad, making it necessary for them to return for any administrative procedures. And potentially to face the draft.
