In a recent episode of Two Minute Papers, Dr. Károly Zsolnai-Fehér discusses a groundbreaking AI technique that allows users to create virtual avatars by simply providing one image of a target face and a video of themselves. This innovative method enables users to transfer their gestures onto various characters, including photos, paintings, and sculptures, showcasing the AI’s ability to understand and replicate unique facial features and movements. The simplicity of the process, requiring only a single image, is highlighted as a significant advancement in the field.
The video emphasizes the challenges faced by AI in accurately mapping human gestures to different target forms, given the unique morphology of each face. Despite these challenges, the new technique demonstrates remarkable performance, surpassing many previous methods in both quality and accuracy. Dr. Zsolnai-Fehér expresses his astonishment at the AI’s capabilities, noting that it can produce near-perfect results even when working with diverse artistic styles and facial proportions.
One of the standout features of this new AI technique is its controllability, allowing users to manipulate the avatar’s expressions, such as opening its eyes or moving its eyebrows. While some movements, like mouth opening, may appear slightly unnatural, the overall quality of the animations is impressive. The video showcases various examples, including the ability to animate animals and even toys, further demonstrating the versatility of the technology.
The presenter encourages viewers to try the technique for themselves, providing a link to access the tool. He mentions that it can run locally on consumer graphics cards at speeds faster than real-time, making it accessible for many users. The excitement surrounding the potential applications of this technology is palpable, as it could revolutionize how people interact in virtual spaces, especially in contexts like video calls and teleconferencing.
Despite its impressive capabilities, the technique does have limitations, particularly in scenarios involving significant pose variations or shoulder movements. Dr. Zsolnai-Fehér invites viewers to share their thoughts on potential uses for this technology, highlighting the ongoing conversation about the future of AI in creating realistic virtual avatars. The video concludes with a sense of wonder about the possibilities this advancement brings to digital communication and interaction.
Check out Lambda here and sign up for their GPU Cloud: Lambda GPU Cloud | 1-Click Clusters
The paper “LivePortrait: Efficient Portrait Animation with Stitching and Retargeting Control” is available here:
https://liveportrait.github.io/
Try it now! - GitHub - camenduru/LivePortrait-jupyter
My paper on simulations that look almost like reality is available for free here:
https://rdcu.be/cWPfD
Or this is the orig. Nature Physics link with clickable citations:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41567-022-01788-5
We would like to thank our generous Patreon supporters who make Two Minute Papers possible:
Alex Balfanz, Alex Haro, B Shang, Benji Rabhan, Gaston Ingaramo, Gordon Child, John Le, Kyle Davis, Loyal Alchemist, Lukas Biewald, Martin, Michael Albrecht, Michael Tedder, Owen Skarpness, Richard Sundvall, Taras Bobrovytsky, Ted Johnson, Thomas Krcmar, Tybie Fitzhugh, Ueli Gallizzi.
If you wish to appear here or pick up other perks, click here: https://www.patreon.com/TwoMinutePapers
My research: Károly Zsolnai-Fehér – Research Scientist – Two Minute Papers
X/Twitter: x.com
Thumbnail design: Felícia Zsolnai-Fehér - http://felicia.hu
