Ukraine has unveiled an AI spokesperson named Victoria Shi, modeled after Ukrainian singer Rosalie Nombre, to provide updates on the country’s war efforts against Russia. The decision to introduce an AI MFA spokesperson was driven by the need to accelerate processes and stay ahead during wartime. Victoria Shi’s role is to report verified information from the consular department of the MFA to the public, focusing on protecting the rights and interests of Ukrainian citizens abroad. Ukraine is also utilizing AI in other war-related areas such as locating landmines, identifying war crimes, and assisting displaced citizens. The MFA has implemented measures to safeguard Victoria Shi from hacking and digital counterfeiting, including the use of QR codes in videos. This move aims to save time and resources for Ukrainian leaders, allowing them to focus on other critical tasks. The introduction of Victoria Shi reflects Ukraine’s commitment to technological innovation in diplomacy, marking a significant leap for diplomatic services worldwide. This development comes in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with Ukraine countering false claims made by President Vladimir Putin. Additionally, other countries like China, India, Greece, Kuwait, and Taiwan have also introduced lifelike AI news anchors to enhance newsroom operations, with the aim of enabling human journalists to focus on more creative work.
