Are You Talking to Me? A Case Study in Emotional Human-Machine Interaction

Abstract

We present Stanley, a digital sculpture designed to engage audiences with the spontaneous and captivating emotional expressions of an artificial human. A 3D-printed face is brought to life through video projection mapping and a set of machine learning libraries and APIs, enabling real-time, embodied interactions with our virtual character. Stanley’s personality is shaped by traditional acting methods applied to a large language model. By creating human-machine encounters in emotionally salient scenarios, we explore how insights from acting and directing for the stage and the screen can enhance the development of compelling virtual agents. By interacting with Stanley, the audience experiences an entertaining yet unsettling encounter with AI technology, fostering a deeper understanding of machine learning techniques and enabling their critical reflection.