Finding companions in computers
Finding companions in computers
1:35 - 2:00P
The secret sauce to conversational AI (hint: it's not the AI)
2:00 - 2:25P
Toys that play back: safe, AI-powered playmates for kids
1:35 - 2:00P
The secret sauce to conversational AI (hint: it's not the AI)
In the future, everyone will have access to the same few AGI-level LLMs. The secret sauce to conversational AI lies in the conversation itself, not in the AI. Replika focuses on constructing the best conversation possible rather than merely relying on the largest model — but what is it, and how do they do it? Eugenia and Rita want to share 5 non-obvious truths they have discovered.
Eugenia Kuyda
she/her
CEO at Replika
Eugenia Kuyda is founder and CEO of Replika, the world's first AI friend. She is a former investigative reporter.
Margarita Popova
she/her
Chief Product Officer at Replika, Blush
Rita Popova’s enthusiasm for nurturing relationships, engaging in meaningful conversations, and promoting emotional well-being fuels her work at Replika. With more than half a decade's experience in developing an AI companion, she has come to realize communication with machines can enhance our human qualities and foster a deeper comprehension of ourselves and those around us.
2:00 - 2:25P
Toys that play back: safe, AI-powered playmates for kids
As seen in Japanese Animism, the puppets of Sesame Street, and even the dystopian film M3GAN, we have an almost supernatural ability to perceive a humanlike consciousness in non-human objects. Our capacity to personify is why AI is such a powerful tool, but also why there has been such a polarizing reaction to its humanlike imitation. By understanding and embracing our innate ability to animate the inanimate, we can build technology that is truly compatible with humans—more social, less isolating, more educational, more interactive, more fun. While many of the sci-fi examples are dystopian, the team at Curio is building a safe, child-friendly application of this technology. They are developing “programmable puppets” that: Refrain from discussing politics, violence, and other sensitive issues by building a cognitive immune system for the toys
Misha Sallee
he/him
Chief Executive Officer at Curio
Misha is CEO and co-founder of Curio. Before joining Curio, he ran a start-up studio called Kiwi Studios. This gave rise to numerous start-ups that were financed by companies such as Sequoia Capital.
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