This project focused on developing interactive 3D character avatars powered by generative AI, combining real-time animation, speech synthesis, and language models. Two prototype characters were created as part of early experimentation.

Lincoln Avatar

The first prototype was a 3D animated avatar of Abraham Lincoln. It was designed as a proof-of-concept for an educational tool, where users could ask questions and receive responses from Lincoln in a historically inspired voice and tone. The character used a real-time facial rig, AI-driven text generation (GPT), and synthesized speech (via ElevenLabs) to deliver unscripted, conversational responses.

The Lincoln avatar was pitched to several educational and historical organizations as an example of how generative AI could be applied to interactive museum displays or learning kiosks.

Scrooge Avatar

The second avatar was created for a seasonal installation at the Indiana Historical Society’s Festival of Trees. The character was Ebenezer Scrooge, adapted from Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. A Christmas tree was decorated with ornaments representing key scenes from the story. When visitors rang a bell placed near the display, the avatar would activate and they could ask about the ornaments, and scrooge would tell the story piece by piece.

The Scrooge character used a similar 3D avatar system and voice synthesis pipeline, with dialogue content tailored for the event. Scrooge was also setup to change his background based on the conversation.