Brief news summary

An AI model has been developed to enable virtual avatars to gesture naturally in sync with spoken words, potentially leading to more realistic AI-generated newsreaders and influencers. Human speech is often accompanied by gestures that enhance communication, yet digital avatars and video game characters typically lack this natural interaction and make generic movements. To address this, researchers set out to train an AI model to understand the link between speech, body language, and emotions. This advancement could significantly improve the realism and expressiveness of virtual figures, making them more engaging and lifelike as they convey information, whether in digital media, video games, or other interactive platforms.