Call Annie, a new app created by Animato, has been making waves on social media in recent days. The app uses OpenAI’s ChatGPT conversational technology to generate responses, with a twist: instead of getting text back, users can have a human-like conversation with an avatar called Annie. Currently, the app is only available on iOS 16 and higher, and video calls require an iPhone 12.
Recently, a Twitter user shared a clip of their experience with Call Annie and made a remarkable discovery – the conversation felt almost like the real thing. The avatar has realistic mannerisms, such as head nods, that bring a feeling of creepiness but also highlights the potential of the app. However, the avatar appears to be from a single female portrayal, raising questions about the overall diversity of the experience.
Animato, the company behind Call Annie, is an AI startup based in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Founded in 2018 and led by CEO Jelle Snaap, the company works to build applications using innovative AI and computer vision technologies, focusing primarily on mobile development. So far they have developed photo processing platforms and facial recognition capabilities, among other AI focused projects.
The person responsible for the viral post was Laila Samy, a technology journalist and YouTuber. Samy is a frequent user of AI technology, particularly in the area of chatbot applications. As a result, she is a good informant for understanding the functionality of new AI applications, such as the one offered by Animato. She is well-known for her work in bringing awareness to AI technologies and their application in the real world.
