Imagine having a personal chat with your favorite baseball player, Shohei Ohtani, or any other star in the MLB. A California-based tech company, Genies, is making this fantasy a reality by creating AI-powered avatars of every Major League Baseball player. These avatars will be available on the Genies website, allowing fans to engage in conversations and even ask players about their decisions during games. But is this a good thing? Let's explore the potential benefits and concerns of this innovative idea.
The deal between Genies and MLB Players Inc. is a comprehensive licensing agreement, covering all players in the MLB. This approach is similar to trading card deals and partnerships with sports-related video games, which are also structured as blanket agreements. According to legal expert Dave Stern, this efficiency is crucial, as negotiating individual deals for each athlete would be impractical. However, some players might prefer to be actively involved in shaping their avatars, ensuring they have some control over their image.
The company's mission is to give AI a 'face' and deepen one-on-one relationships between celebrities and their fans. According to CEO Akash Nigam, this approach addresses the one-to-many relationship issue that typically exists between artists or athletes and their fan base. Clinical psychologist Lynn Zubernis supports this, noting that having a one-sided relationship with a celebrity isn't inherently negative for people with strong boundaries.
However, the potential downsides of these parasocial relationships cannot be ignored. Some fans may struggle to maintain self-awareness and manage expectations within these relationships. Zubernis suggests that cartoon-like avatars might help mitigate this risk, but it's not a guarantee. The avatars will exist solely on the Genies website, where users can chat with them, and they will have text and voice functions, as well as the ability to recall details of past conversations.
Genies is taking a conservative approach to start, with heavy investment in security and moderation. They are working with information security experts to ensure the characters stick to a script and are releasing very safe, baseline, accurate characters. The company will also solicit feedback from players who want more involvement in the process. While the company is marketing the MLB avatars to kids and teens, they are aware of the potential risks and are taking steps to mitigate them.
In conclusion, while the idea of having a personal chat with your favorite baseball player is exciting, it's essential to consider the potential benefits and concerns of this technology. Genies is taking a responsible approach, and with further development, it could provide a unique and engaging experience for baseball fans.
