The founder of AI startup Tavus says users talk to AI Santa for “hours” every day

A new helper has arrived at the North Pole in recent years: artificial intelligence.

for youAn artificial intelligence startup that creates digital replicas using voice and facial cloning technology has launched its program Santa’s artificial intelligence experience For the second year in a row. This allows parents and kids to video chat with a virtual version of fun old St. Nick.

After signing up for a free account, users can interact with AI Santa via text, phone, or video chat. Users can tell AI Santa what they want for Christmas, share their holiday plans, and see if they’re on the naughty or nice list.

This year, the company debuted an improved version of AI Santa, designed to be more expressive and emotionally aware. Santa is now “Tavus PAL,” the company name for real-time artificial intelligence agents designed to see, hear, respond, and appear like humans.

AI Santa can now see and respond to users’ expressions and gestures. It also remembers users’ conversations and interests, creating a more personalized experience. Notably, he can now take actions of his own, including searching the web for present ideas or even performing everyday tasks such as drafting emails.

During testing, the conversation with Santa’s AI was mostly engaging. When we mentioned we wanted a new PlayStation for Christmas, Santa followed up with questions about our favorite video games, demonstrating his knowledge of specific titles like Baldur’s Gate 3. He also smiled when we did so. (We didn’t like this part very much, but maybe others will.)

Users seem to be enjoying the improved experience so far. Founder and CEO Hassan Reda said many people interact with the platform frequently, spending hours chatting with AI Santa and often reaching their daily limits.

He pointed out that “the artificial intelligence Santa attracted millions of visits last year, and we are on our way to exceed that by a significant margin as Christmas approaches.”

While this level of engagement represents a significant milestone for Tavos, it also raises questions about the impact of such interactions, especially for young children. Children may have difficulty distinguishing between an artificial intelligence and a real person. Spending hours in conversation with artificial intelligence has already been linked to negative effects on adults, making the potential effects on children who strongly believe in Santa a concern for some parents.

During our tests, there were subtle signs that the AI ​​Santa still sounded just like a human, such as long pauses and a flat voice. We also found that if a user wondered if this was real, the programmed response was: “I’m an AI Santa powered by the magic and technology of Tavos. I may not be an actual Santa, but I have spirit and joy.”

However, this trial is being launched amid growing concerns about the effects of AI on young users. He was there Reports Linking chatbot interactions to serious harms, including cases in which chatbots have been implicated Suicidal deaths Of teenagers. Personality.AI It has been removed Access to its chatbots for users under 18 in October.

Reda stressed that the AI ​​Santa experience is designed for families to enjoy together, with safety measures in place to ensure appropriate interactions. Safety features, such as content filters, have been implemented to keep discussions family-friendly.

In certain situations, conversations may be ended, and users may be directed to mental health resources if necessary.

“The vast majority of interactions were family friendly and true to the Santa experience,” he said.

Additionally, when asked about data collection, Reda said the company “collects logs, session timestamps, metadata, and other information that users choose to share during their conversations. This data is used to provide and maintain a secure experience, and users can request that the data be deleted at any time.”