Ukraine Introduces AI Spokesperson For War Information Against Russian Invasion

Victoria Shi, Ukrainian government AI spokesman (screenshot photo/ary/voi.id)

JAKARTA - The Ukrainian government has introduced an AI spokesman to provide information about their war efforts against Russia's invasion of the country.

The AI spokesman named Victoria Shi was taken from Ukraine's 'win' for 'artificial intelligence' based on the similarity of Ukrainian singer and influencer Rosalie Nombre, who agreed to participate pro- bono in this program.

The avatar is dressed in black with Ukrainian flag pins, hair tied back, and wearing decorated earrings - but officials emphasize that digital figures and Nombre are 'two different people'.

👋 Meet Victoria Shi — a digital representative of the MFA of Ukraine, created using AI to provide timely updates on consular affairs! For the first time in history, the MFA of Ukraine has presented a digital persona that will officially comment for the media. pic.twitter.com/KTtuCVR1ku

— MFA of Ukraine 🇺🇦 (@MFA_Ukraine) May 1, 2024

Meet Victoria Shi a digital representative of the MFA of Ukraine, created using AI to provide times updates on consumer airlines! For the first time in history, the MFA of Ukraine has presented a digital persona that will officially comment for the media. pic.twitter.com/KTtuCVR1kuku

In a video released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), Shi introduces himself and explains his work roles and functions, and says that he was created to protect the 'rights and interests of Ukrainians abroad.'

The decision to add an MFA AI spokesman was not an abrupt decision, but a necessity of war efforts, Ukraine's Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, said in a statement.

"As we know," he said, to achieve the results needed for the country, it is necessary to accelerate all processes and become one step ahead.

Talking about his role as a representative of Ukraine's MFA, Shi said in his video message: "My job is to report operational and verified information from the Ukrainian MFA consular department to the public."

"I will inform journalists about news related to consular work in protecting the rights and interests of Ukrainian citizens abroad, responding to incidents or emergency situations, and other news," Shi said.

Ukraine is also using AI in other areas of its war efforts including in finding landmines, identifying war crimes, and relocating people in the standings.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with owners of the AI company Palantir in 2022 and has since used its AI data analytic software for war efforts.

The MFA has taken steps to protect Shi from hackers or digital counterfeiters by placing the QR code at the bottom of each video that will directly direct viewers to the text version of the statement on the government's official website.

If there is no QR code on the video, MFA warns that the video is not considered authentic, but also explains that Shi is not a substitute for Ukraine's MFA human spokesman.