Will.i.am Introduces A Black Woman AI Host “Felicia” At Cannes Lions

At the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, Will.i.am introduced an AI-generated host named Felicia from his SiriusXM show.

Felicia: A Black Woman AI

Felicia, an AI-generated Black woman host, debuted at the Cannes Lions Festival in France, during a conversation with Kim Last of The Wall Street Journal.

Addressing the audience, she stressed the importance of representation and empowerment in technology. 

“AI is more than just cool tech. It’s a new frontier where every voice must be heard,” Felicia said, according to AfroTech.

“We’re here to make it clear that AI needs to reflect the diverse, rich tapestry of all our communities, especially ours. It’s about fighting biases, creating equal opportunities, and bringing that unique flair right into the heart of innovation.”

What does intelligence sound like?

Will.i.am took the opportunity to criticize companies like Disney, Microsoft, and Google for perpetuating narrow interpretations of voices and accents in their AI technologies. 

He highlighted the issue of credibility biases, referencing a study by Anne Pycha and Georgia Zellou, which found that native American-English speakers perceived British-accented voices as more trustworthy. 

“When it comes to AI… that intelligence does not sound like someone from the Bronx or sound like somebody from Atlanta and think like someone from the favelas in Rio de Janeiro or Columbia or Puerto Rico or Dominican Republic,” said Will.i.am.

“It was super important that we built Felicia from that perspective because who’s supposed to build that?” he continued. “We should do that. If intelligence is intelligence, it should come from our communities, and our communities need to be represented in that space.”

Nevertheless, the unveiling of Felicia also raises ongoing issues regarding the frequent use of women’s names and voices for subservient digital assistants.

Future Plans And Vision For AI

Looking ahead, Will.i.am is not only focused on creating AI-generated hosts like Felicia but also on pioneering AI-generated artists in the music industry. 

He aims to work with leading AI programmers to create music for these virtual artists, representing a shift in how creativity and technology intersect.

“We’re here to make sure the future is inclusive and vibrant, just like the communities we come from,” Will.i.am stated.

Image Credit: The Wall Street Journal