Ukraine's new spokesperson is generated by artificial intelligence

With each passing day, it seems like we are living a new episode of the series Black Mirror. Last week, the international community was surprised by the announcement of new Ukrainian spokesperson, generated by artificial intelligence. Call Victoria Shi, it is 100% digital and will play the role of representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Consular Affairs. Want to know more about the country's technological innovation? So continue reading and understand about AI and its diplomatic responsibilities.

Introducing Victoria Shi

Developed with artificial intelligence by the NGO team The Game Changers, and with the help of the NGO Nazovni Tech, Victoria Shi had her look inspired by a real woman: the Ukrainian influencer and singer Rosalie Nombre. According to the official note issued by the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, she agreed to voluntarily participate in the project and serve as a model for creating the avatar prototype. However, the government emphasizes that they are two different people and that only Victoria is an official representative of the Ministry, not Rosalie.

Victoria's introduction to the world took place through a video lasting just over a minute published on social media, in which she explains who she is. She just takes a look (the video is in Ukrainian):

“Dear representatives of the media and the public, I congratulate you. My name is Victoria Shi. I was created by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine using artificial intelligence technologies to quickly and qualitatively inform on consular issues. I am a digital person. In other words, the text you hear was not read by a real person. Artificial intelligence did it.”

Victoria Shi, new spokesperson for Ukraine representing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Consular Affairs.

"With my appearance, you and I are taking a step towards the future. I will be happy with our cooperation“, she concludes in her first official statement.

Also in the note released by the government is the justification for choosing the name of the AI-generated spokesperson. “My name symbolizes our main goal – the victory of Ukraine, and my surname – the artificial intelligence that created me“, explains Victoria, mentioning the war that the country has been facing against Russia since 2022.

Functions and assignments

According to the spokesperson herself, her functions within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are: informing and transmitting operational and verified information from the ministry's consular service to the public, informing journalists and the media about the work carried out by consuls in protecting rights and interests of Ukrainian citizens internationally, disseminate the Ministry's responses to incidents or emergencies abroad, and also report on other important issues concerning it.

Victoria Shi's statements will appear on the Ministry's official resources, on its website and on the ministry's social media profiles. In addition, they will also be disseminated via press office to the media.

Security and authenticity protocols

In times where the veracity of information is increasingly at risk online, especially with the whirlwind of fake news spread daily across the four corners of the internet, the Ukrainian government has established strict security and authenticity protocols that will accompany Victoria Shi's statements.

All videos published that contain statements from the spokesperson will have an embedded QR Code, which in turn will be linked to an active link that will take the user to the official Ukrainian government website, with the same comment in text form. If there is no code in the video, or it redirects to an unofficial government website, it will not be considered authentic.

Furthermore, Victoria will not replace the official spokesperson of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, currently the diplomat Oleg Nikolenko.

Conclusion

Although it is too early to say whether the technological innovation promoted by the Ukrainian government has been successful or not, as Victoria Shi started work less than a month ago, this is an important step towards the future of international relations. According to the official note issued by the country's government, the action is part of a broader strategy for the implementation of new technologies in the field of diplomacy.

“The use of a digital person generated by artificial intelligence for consular comments is mainly a time and resource saver for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Real diplomats will be able to be more effective and focus on other tasks of providing assistance to citizens.”

declares Dmytro Kuleba, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.

"Diplomacy, not only in Ukraine but throughout the world, has always been a conservative field and the last to introduce innovations. We are changing that. Ukrainian diplomacy is now strengthening its capabilities and making a technological leap, which no diplomatic service in the world has yet made“, adds Kuleba.

Will we soon have official representatives of the Brazilian government created by artificial intelligence? Only time will tell!

See also:

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, The Guardian e PC Mag.

reviewed by Glaucon Vital in 7 / 5 / 24.