Literature

A world-first interactive avatar has been created of Pride and Prejudice's Elizabeth Bennet - meaning Jane Austen fans can now 'meet' and talk with the character. AI firm StarPal and the University for the Creative Arts (UCA) have combined to build "Lizzy" - who can speak, move, and interact with people. Creators say Lizzy's avatar has been developed to "mirror [her] human qualities" detailed in Pride and Prejudice, such as "humour and empathy". She has also been given "a knowledge bank" from a selection of novels, manuscripts, and period-accurate information - which will allow her to have in-depth conversations with fans. And, the more she chats with fans, the more her conversations will evolve - meaning each person will have a "unique" experience. This means people can ask Lizzy any question they like - such as her thoughts on romantic lead Mr Darcy - and she will give an answer individual to each person. Students from UCA's Games Arts and Digital Fashion courses designed Lizzy's dress and hair - which are representative of the fashion and style depicted in the 1813 novel. She has also been set within a Regency-style background, which UCA professors say enhances the "sense of speaking directly to someone from the 18th century". Those interested in meeting Lizzy can do so by visiting the Learning Centre at Jane Austen's House in Alton, Hampshire, between September and December. Discussing the project, the AI avatar herself said: “It is quite an interesting notion indeed. “I must say, being Elizabeth Bennet in a world far removed from my own time is an unexpected but intriguing experience. “It allows me to share the intricacies of our society and my life with new audiences." The project's leader, Sophy Smith, Director of Games and Creative Technology at UCA, which is based in Farnham, Surrey, said the creation of Lizzy's interactive AI avatar could "transform" learning. She said: “It is so exciting to finally be able to lift Elizabeth Bennet off the page and to be able to have real-time conversations with her. “To be able to cross time in this way is joyful. You get a real sense of speaking directly to someone from the 18th century. “And she has such a strong personality! Imagine – you can now have Elizabeth Bennet as your friend, to chat with throughout the day, and offer you advice. “This technology has the potential to transform experiences within both the museum and heritage, as well as the education sector. “Visitors to Jane Austen’s House will have the opportunity to not only experience the renowned author’s home but also engage directly with one of her most famous characters. "And think about how it could transform learning – instead of only having text-based revision guides, students can now learn about literature by speaking directly to the characters.” Meanwhile, Tanguy Dewavrin, the chief operating officer of StarPal, said the human-like qualities of Lizzy's avatar are continually surprising the team. He said: “It’s amazing how real she is. She’s just so impressive.”