The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine presented a new initiative that will change the way official information on consular issues is provided to the mass media. Instead of the traditional approach, the information will now be provided by Victoria Shi, a digital person created with the help of artificial intelligence, a pioneering step in history, according to the Foreign Office.
This digital persona was created on the basis of a real person - Ukrainian singer, influencer and participant of the television show "Bachelor" Rosalie "Kovbasa" Nombre from Donetsk. She took part in the project of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs "pro bono", that is, free of charge.
Victoria's appearance was filmed, digitized, and now her comments will appear on the official websites and social networks of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and will also be transmitted to journalists through the ministry's press service.
Introducing the first video commentary from Victoria Shea, a digital person created with the help of artificial intelligence to provide prompt and high-quality information on consular matters. She emphasizes that this was done without the participation of a real person.
Victoria Shi will inform journalists about the work of consuls to protect the rights and interests of Ukrainian citizens abroad, as well as about the reaction of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to incidents outside the country.
While Rosalie Nombre has not expressed her opinion about the initiative on her social networks, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasizes that a real person and her digital reflection are two different entities, and only Victoria Shea provides official comments.
The Ministry explains that to verify the authenticity of the video, you should find the QR code in the upper right corner, which will redirect to the text version of the comment.
In addition, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasizes that Victoria Shea is not a replacement for the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, although recently Oleg Nikolenko, who held this position, announced his departure.
The ministry claims that Nikolenko's replacement has already been found and that this person is at the stage of special checks.
According to representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the name Victoria symbolizes the main goal - the victory of Ukraine.
"With my appearance, we are taking a step into the future, I will be glad of our cooperation," Victoria Shi finished her address.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba emphasizes that the use of Victoria Shea is a strategic step to save time and resources of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
"Real diplomats will be able to perform their duties more effectively and concentrate on other areas of assistance to citizens," Kuleba notes.
According to him, this is not just a whim, but a necessity in the conditions of war. "In order to achieve important results for the country, it is necessary to speed up all processes and be one step ahead," the MFA adds.
Kuleba notes that diplomacy has always been a conservative industry that was the last to embrace innovation. However, Ukrainian diplomats intend to change this approach and make a "technological leap that has never been seen in the world," the minister notes.
The emergence of a "digital person" that will inform about the work of consuls has become relevant against the background of the suspension of consular services for Ukrainian men abroad. According to the mobilization law, men abroad will be able to resume consular services only after updating their data at the TCC.
However, many people on social media criticize the idea of creating a digital spokesperson.
"Is this something imagined by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs?" - comments one user.
Journalist and media expert Otar Dovzhenko believes that Victoria Shi is an unfounded innovation that can cause further automation of the state's communication with the media.
He believes that if AI video commentaries hit the airwaves, TV journalists will be challenged to get comprehensible answers.
"Journalists will not have the opportunity to ask questions, but will only wait for the synthesized text of the official statement to be broadcast. This is not a "black mirror", but a wet dream of officials - to no longer answer journalists' questions", Dovzhenko emphasizes.
Another issue is responsibility. How will the media quote Victoria Shi's statements?
"Our consciousness will perceive "Victoria" as the source of the statement, therefore it will be impossible to place responsibility on those who are really responsible for the content of what was said," the journalist notes.
