CHANTAL PISARZOWSKI

®2024

n≠1

n≠1

Conversation with a Digital Avatar

Conversation with a Digital Avatar

project type

Interactive VR Installation

Year

2024

Role

Technical direction

technology

LLM Unreal Engine Character Creator ElevenLabs TTS

n≠1 is a VR Installation where the user can talk to a conversational digital avatar of a deceased person.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

n≠1

n≠1 investigates the potential of artificial intelligence to support contemporary grief work. As traditional mourning rituals lose cultural traction, individuals increasingly look for alternative avenues to process loss. The project therefore interrogates how AI‑generated avatars might underpin new commemorative practices while simultaneously exposing inherent ethical and psychological risks.

VR Glasses

Showreel

VR Glasses

Showreel

VR Glasses

Showreel

CONCEPT

What if we could talk to deceased?

A key focus of the research is to evaluate the risk of "secondary loss," which refers to the potential for renewed grief through repeated interactions with digital representations of the deceased. The study aims to provide a thorough critical analysis of how these technologies affect users emotionally and psychologically.

A key focus of the research is to evaluate the risk of "secondary loss," which refers to the potential for renewed grief through repeated interactions with digital representations of the deceased. The study aims to provide a thorough critical analysis of how these technologies affect users emotionally and psychologically.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Technical Architecture

n≠1 utilizes advanced artificial intelligence to create digital avatars of deceased individuals with whom users can engage in authentic interactions through conversations. The creation of these avatars requires images, voice messages, and additional information about the deceased person. The technical implementation is based on machine learning and natural language processing.

n≠1 utilizes advanced artificial intelligence to create digital avatars of deceased individuals with whom users can engage in authentic interactions through conversations. The creation of these avatars requires images, voice messages, and additional information about the deceased person. The technical implementation is based on machine learning and natural language processing.

n≠1

Achievements

Awards

Awards

The Lumen Prize — Final Nomination
Creative Conscience Award — Silver Winner
DIVR XR Science Award — Final Nominee

Exhibitions

Ars Electronica — Linz
Berlin Design Week — Berlin
Körber Foundation — Berlin
manifest:io — Berlin
nextreality Festival — Hamburg
Places Festival — Gelsenkirchen
XR Science DIVR — Dortmund

Talks

Max-Planck-Institute — Berlin
gamescom — Cologne
HIIG — Berlin
Körber Foundation — Berlin
MANIFEST:IO — Berlin
nextreality Festival — Hamburg
BMW Group — Berlin

n≠1

n≠1

n≠1

Credits

Prof. Pablo Dornhege

Prof. Pablo Dornhege

Prof. Andreas Ingerl

Prof. Andreas Ingerl

Technical & Art Direction

Technical & Art Direction

Camera – Showreel

Camera – Showreel

Supervisior
Supervisior
Supervisior
Supervisior
Supervisior
Supervisior
Chantal Pisarzowski
Chantal Pisarzowski
Chantal Pisarzowski
Felix Henke
Felix Henke
Felix Henke