AI Future

An AI expert has predicted emails and texts will be replaced by talking avatars in 2026. Duncan Thomsen, 55, has worked as an AI artist for two years and a film editor for 28 years - and employs AI to create digital images that have been used with top-tier broadcasters like BBC, ITV, and PBS. Duncan predicts that 2026 will see a huge change in the way humans communicate with each other via email or text. He predicts that the traditional email or text will be replaced by AI talking avatars. The avatars will be an online version of the person you want to contact, and instead of texting them, you can simply have a conversation with them in real time. Duncan, from Brighton, East Sussex, said: "One thing that I have seen developed is avatar emails. "When you receive emails, you will get a video message via an avatar rather than you reading the email back yourself. "I predict that will also apply to texts. You will ask your phone to send a text message to someone, and you will speak to the avatar. "The avatar will be the person you are trying to contact." Duncan also believes that university lecturers will start using AI avatars for their one-to-one lectures with students. He said that educators will be able to set up prompts for whatever questions a student will ask, and the avatar will respond as they would. "There is huge potential for educators within the next year when it comes to AI," Duncan said. "Lectures have to do with hundreds, if not thousands, of one-to-ones with their students, which must be exhausting. "With avatars, lecturers can set up prompts and when a student asks the avatar a question, it will reply like the lecturer it is intended for." Within the next year, Duncan believes that we will start to see whole TV shows and music videos created by AI. He said AI won't replace news and sports, but AI software will help create those programmes. Duncan said: "We will see whole documentaries created out of AI. "There will be films and entertainment shows created by AI, whether that be music, characters or real-life people. "AI can't replace news or sports; we can't replace actual events, but we can wrap them in AI. "When it comes to news and sports, I think it will be a hybrid model, where we will have live interviews with AI-enhanced video and music made by AI." Duncan believes AI will begin to replace human-to-human relationships in the year ahead. He says people will see AI as a "cheerleader" who is always in your corner to offer advice on how to handle certain scenarios. Another reason he believes AI is replacing human connections is that some relationships are "transactional", and AI is individual to each person. Duncan said: "People are isolated because of the lack of money and community. "I think it will be beneficial for many people. "When you speak to AI, you can talk through a topic, and it won't judge. "If you look at Star Wars, C3PO and R2-D2 are AI and they are loved. "I think AI relationships will become very normal." Earlier this year, Duncan launched AiStudiosUK.com, making content across scripted, factual, commercial and social media.