Disney Pursues AI Characters That Form Bonds Using Guest Memories
The company has patented technology that could allow theme park characters to remember and utilize guest interactions.
Disney Enterprises has been granted patents for artificial intelligence-powered characters designed to form emotional connections with theme park guests by storing and recalling shared memories. The technology, revealed recently after being approved in September, could fundamentally alter how visitors interact with characters like Mickey Mouse at Disney World.
The patented systems include 'AI-generated creative content based on shared memories' and an 'emotionally responsive artificial intelligence interactive character.' This character would be capable of asking guests to share a memory and then using that information to strengthen its perceived relationship with the guest. According to the patent, the 'memory bank' could evolve to amplify similarities between stored memories and guest recollections, thereby enhancing the feeling of closeness.
This development has sparked a divided reaction among Disney fans online. Some expressed excitement about the potential for increased immersion in the parks. However, significant privacy concerns were also raised. Critics worry that an AI's ability to record and analyze interactions could lead to personal data being used for targeted advertising or sold to third parties, a risk not present with human cast members who have limited recall.
Concerns were also voiced about the potential for AI characters to become unsettling or intrusive, with some users hoping for robust safeguards against 'scary territory.' Others lamented the potential shift away from human interaction, viewing the 'people' as central to the Disney experience.
This initiative follows Disney's earlier work with AI characters. In November, the company showcased an AI-powered Olaf robot at Disneyland Paris. This robot could walk and talk, adapting to its surroundings through a combination of remote operation and AI. The development of Olaf's lifelike movements involved reinforcement learning, a branch of AI where robots learn through trial and error in simulated environments. Despite these advancements, the Olaf robot is still operated remotely by a Disney staff member.