The bustling city of Washington, DC recently played host to the Voice&AI Conference, a premier event that brought together the brightest minds in the Voice and AI industries. Among the attendees was our own Falene McKenna. Her attendance marked our journey to gain a deeper understanding of the latest trends and advancements in the field and to represent that role that robots - specifically Aico - have in that future.
The conference, held from September 5th to 7th, was a blend of pre-conference workshops and main conference days. The event's program promised a deep dive into the world of Generative AI, and it certainly delivered.
Here’s a brief overview of what was available:
🎙️ Digital Humans: The Future of Interaction
One of the standout insights from the conference was the rise of Digital Humans. These entities are not just voicebots; they are the visual embodiment of these voicebots. In a similar vein, robots serve as the physical representation of bots. This shift towards a more tangible and interactive form of AI is a testament to the rapid advancements in the industry.
🤖 Robots: The Physical Embodiment of Bots
Robots bridge the gap between digital intelligence and real-world applications. As the industry of Voice moves toward digital humans, robots serve as counterpoint. As Falene brought up during her talk, the trust level people have for robots is initially stronger and it lays the groundwork for deeper connections in the fields of healthcare, banking, and education.
🧠 LLMs & Generative AI: Unraveling the Intricacies
Another dominant theme at the conference was the discussion around LLMs and Generative AI. The conversations ranged from the technicalities of how they function and the intricacies of their implementation to the broader aspects of prompt engineering and potential vulnerabilities.
🔧🛡️ Prompt Engineering and the importance of Security in AI
All these LLM speakers culminated in a PromptNight and a Hackathon, designed to test and train skills and to explore the security - and holes - in AI systems. Our fabulous Falene came in 4th just behind the illustrious Emily Uematsu Banzhaf, Content Designer at Willow Tree and Open Voice Network Ambassador.
🛡️ Ethical Concerns: Voice Ownership
As insightful and exciting as it all was, there were still concerns raised across the board. With an eye open to the issues with generative AI in the film industry, there was a stand out talk on Voice Actor rights of the National Association of Voice Actors which addressed and voiced their concerns on voice ownership. On the other side of the room, we had Veritone - which acquired Rupal Patal’s VocaliD - creating voice clones and continuing the social impact work of VocaliD. The Open Voice Network has also crafted a course with the Linux Foundation on the ethical principles for conversational AI, which was highly recommended and discussed… so much so that we will share it here, too: https://www.edx.org/learn/computer-programming/the-linux-foundation-ethical-principles-for-conversational-ai
🎉 WomenInVoice: A Beacon of Inclusivity
While the conference was a melting pot of ideas and innovations, it was also a place of camaraderie and networking. A special mention must be made of WomenInVoice, VoiceFlow, and VUX - organizations that stood out with their welcoming and vivacious presence. Their involvement added a layer of warmth and inclusivity to the event, making it a memorable experience for many.
The Voice&AI Conference 2023 was not just an event; it was a learning experience. It provided a platform for professionals like Falene to immerse themselves in the world of voice and AI, gather insights, and connect with like-minded individuals. As the industry continues to evolve, such events play a crucial role in shaping the future, and Falene's participation is a testament to our commitment to staying at the forefront of this evolution.
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