Genies CEO Akash Nigam said AI personalities need a face to build trust and engagement as they proliferate across the internet [1].
The push for visual AI identities marks a shift from text-based interactions toward immersive digital humans. This transition aims to make artificial intelligence feel more relatable and human-centric for users globally.
Speaking on CNBC’s Squawk Box, Nigam said a visual representation is necessary for AI to be widely accepted online [1]. He said the company is building AI characters that feel like real people, noting that a visual identity is a core part of that experience [2].
This strategy extends to the sports world through high-profile partnerships. Genies entered an agreement with MLB Players Inc. on Feb. 5 [4] and later partnered with the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) on March 5 [3].
Nigam said the partnership with the NBPA will bring basketball superstars to life as interactive avatars, giving fans a new way to connect [3]. These avatars allow professional athletes to maintain a digital presence that is both interactive and visually consistent.
Based in Los Angeles, California [4], Genies is positioning itself at the intersection of artificial intelligence and digital identity. The company's approach suggests that the utility of AI is limited without a corresponding visual presence to anchor the user experience.
As AI characters become more common in customer service, entertainment, and social media, the demand for consistent digital personas is growing. Nigam said that providing a "face" to these entities removes the abstraction of the technology, making the interaction feel more personal.
“AI personalities need a face.”
The move toward visual AI avatars represents a transition from AI as a tool to AI as a persona. By integrating recognizable faces and celebrity likenesses, companies are attempting to bridge the 'uncanny valley' and create emotional bonds between users and software. This shift suggests that the future of the internet may rely less on search queries and more on social interactions with digital entities.
