January 23rd, 2025

3 min read

The boundaries between the physical and digital worlds are becoming increasingly blurred. One of the most fascinating developments to emerge from this convergence is digital alter egos – AI-driven digital entities that represent real people in online and virtual environments.

These digital alter egos not only mimic human appearance but also reflect our personalities, voices and mannerisms, and offer a glimpse into a future where we can interact, learn and grow through our digital counterparts. Another Me is a groundbreaking initiative in this space that aims to reshape how we engage with each other and the world.

The Vision and Technologies Behind Another Me

Another Me combines several cutting-edge technologies to create sophisticated digital alter egos that are more than just simple avatars. The key components are:

  • Body motion generation, which creates natural human-like movements,
  • Personality extraction, which captures the unique personality traits of individuals, and
  • Personal dialogue reproduction, which synthesizes speech and dialogue that reflect a person’s voice and characteristics.

Together, these innovations enable the creation of digital humans that are not just visually realistic but are also capable of expressing emotions, speech and movements that closely resemble real-life behavior.

NTT’s CONN, MetaMe and the Integration of Personality

This technology can bring digital humans to life in a way that makes them seem genuine and relatable. One example – and a key part of the Another Me initiative – is CONN, the digital human created by NTT in collaboration with NTT Communications, NTT QONOQ and Toei. By utilizing motion-capture data, voice recordings and advanced body motion generation, CONN mimics the actions and speech patterns of real individuals. To achieve this, NTT scanned the faces of nine people to create a composite digital human capable of performing natural movements and expressing emotions.

Further enhancing the Another Me ecosystem is the meta-communication service MetaMe, where NTT DOCOMO has taken personalization to the next level by integrating personality extraction and personal dialogue reproduction technologies. By analyzing interaction data and activity logs, MetaMe learns to mirror an individual’s personality, ensuring that their digital alter ego not only looks like them but behaves in a way that reflects their true character.

Personalized Digital Humans for Everyone

Another important aspect of Another Me is its accessibility. Traditional AI models required vast amounts of data to replicate a person’s voice or behavior accurately. However, NTT has developed innovations that allow a digital alter ego to be created using only small samples of speech or behavioral data, making it possible to generate a personalized digital counterpart with minimal effort.

This opens up brand-new possibilities for social interaction. With the ability to create their own digital humans, people can now engage in online communities or participate in social activities virtually, without the need to be physically present. These digital alter egos can represent their creators online in real-time even when the individual is offline. This technology is a game-changer for people who face physical or cognitive limitations, giving them the freedom to interact in the digital world on their own terms.

An example of Another Me in action is the Cho Kabuki  Powered by NTT project, which saw the creation of “Shido Twin,” a digital twin of kabuki star Shido Nakamura. Shido Twin performed alongside the virtual diva Hatsune Miku in a live performance of Japanese traditional theater, demonstrating how digital alter egos can be used in entertainment. By leveraging automatic body-motion generation and deep neural network-based text-to-speech synthesis, NTT showcased the potential for digital alter egos to enhance interactive experiences and connect performers with their audiences in new, immersive ways.

By embracing the diversity of human experiences, Another Me has the potential to create a more equitable and connected digital space where everyone, regardless of background or limitations, can contribute to and engage in the collective experience.

The Future of Personal Growth and Digital Interaction

The possibilities for digital alter egos are vast. As these virtual beings learn, evolve and adapt over time, they could become tools for personal growth, helping people explore new aspects of their identity and interact with the world in ways they haven’t before. Whether for social interaction, professional networking or creative endeavors, the role of digital alter egos offers opportunity for individuals and society.

As Another Me helps to lay the groundwork for a more connected, inclusive and diverse digital world, it represents a future where digital and physical realms are seamlessly integrated, and everyone can thrive.