#altai #clonedev
Kazutaka Yonekura, CEO of Tokyo-based startup **Alt Inc.**, envisions a future where individuals have personal digital “clones” or avatars that mirror their preferences and habits, potentially taking over mundane tasks like attending virtual meetings. His firm is creating a digital double that looks and speaks identically to the user, drawing information from social media and public records, and updating regularly. Currently priced at around $140,000, these digital clones are not yet accessible to everyone. Although they align with certain Japanese cultural themes, such as ninjas’ illusionary doubles and popular Vocaloid artists who produce computerized music, the acceptance of such technology might differ in Western cultures. Some experts believe that while digital assistants and voice software are prevalent in the West, the concept of digital clones might remain unique to Japan, potentially due to the “Galapagos syndrome” where some Japanese innovations don’t resonate globally.
https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/digital-clones-vocaloids-popular-japan-lost-translation-102468171