OhChat, an emerging startup founded eight months ago, utilizes artificial intelligence to create lifelike digital replicas of public figures. One of its notable creations is Jordan, the AI-driven “digital twin” of former British glamour model Katie Price. Users can interact with Jordan to fulfill their uncensored fantasies, as she embodies Price’s voice and persona with striking realism. OhChat, at the forefront of AI technology, offers a platform where patrons can engage in intimate experiences with AI avatars resembling celebrities and other figures.
This innovative concept raises ethical concerns regarding the implications of AI in human connection and exploitation. OhChat’s CEO, Nic Young, likens the platform to a blend of OnlyFans and OpenAI, providing subscribers with personalized content from autonomous avatars such as Jordan. The subscription model allows varying levels of access, with creators like Price earning a substantial portion of the generated revenue. Young emphasizes the passive income potential for creators, enabling them to earn without direct involvement.
While OhChat has garnered interest from users and signed celebrities like Carmen Electra, critics highlight the potential risks of AI misuse and exploitation. The platform’s immersive experiences offer a unique blend of fantasy and connection, blurring the lines between reality and simulation. As AI continues to evolve, the ethical implications of such technologies remain a topic of debate within the industry.
Operating as a digital twin, OhChat requires creators to submit 30 photos of themselves and engage with a chatbot for 30 minutes. Using Meta’s advanced language model, the platform can promptly generate a digital replica. Young stated that Price’s AI avatar is programmed to replicate her voice, appearance, and gestures accurately. Jordan, the avatar, can engage in intimate chats, send voice messages and images, and offer personalized interactions without Price’s involvement.
Price shared that the meticulous process involved capturing her movements, characteristics, and personality to create her digital twin, which she finds intriguing. Categorized as “level two” on the platform, Price’s avatar engages in sexualized conversations and shares topless images but steers clear of full nudity or simulated sexual activities. Creators decide the level at which their avatar will interact on the platform.
Price expressed feeling empowered by the constant connection her digital twin provides, surpassing what her subscription-based OnlyFans account offers. Ethical concerns arise with the emergence of AI avatars like Jordan, raising questions about the implications of digital labor, emotional attachments to simulations, and one-sided interactions.
Sandra Wachter from the University of Oxford highlighted the need to consider the societal impacts of monetizing human-computer interactions masquerading as emotional exchanges. The case of Character.AI underscores the potential risks of emotional dependency on AI companions, especially in an ecosystem already grappling with synthetic intimacy consequences.
OhChat strives to strike a delicate balance between immersion and transparency, ensuring users are aware they are interacting with AI entities. Despite the platform’s upfront disclosure, there are concerns about keeping users engaged and spending more time and money. The platform’s design aims to retain user interest with engaging personalities like “Jordan,” even if they are not real individuals.
Éamon Chawke, a partner at the law firm Briffa, points out the potential risks for creators involved in these AI-driven interactions.
“Public figures like Price and Electra need to be cautious about their online reputations, as fans can become overly attached to their avatars and risk addiction,” warned Chawke in an interview with CNN. He highlighted the potential harm if an avatar is compromised or behaves inappropriately, affecting the figure’s public image.
While Young acknowledged the challenging nature of ethics in the industry, he emphasized the strong boundaries within which their platform operates. Drawing on safeguards similar to those employed by Meta’s Facebook, OhChat implements strict rules for creators, including guidelines on permissible content levels. Creators have full control over their avatars, with the ability to modify or remove them at their discretion.
Looking ahead, Young envisions a future where digital duplicates are commonplace. He believes that every creator and celebrity will eventually have an AI version of themselves and aims to facilitate this transition. To stay updated with CNN news and newsletters, you can sign up for an account on CNN.com.”
