AI-Powered Tour Guide Futura Debuts at SIGGRAPH 2024
Berlin, Wednesday, 31 July 2024.
Reply showcases Futura, an AI-powered digital tour guide, at SIGGRAPH 2024. Developed for Costa Crociere cruises, Futura uses NVIDIA ACE and generative AI to offer personalized recommendations and enhance customer experiences, revolutionizing travel interactions aboard the Costa Smeralda.
Revolutionizing Travel with AI
Futura, designed by Reply, an international group specializing in AI and digital media, is set to transform travel experiences on Costa Crociere’s flagship, the Costa Smeralda. By leveraging NVIDIA’s ACE (Avatar Creation Engine) and generative AI, Futura provides personalized tourist information and excursion recommendations tailored to individual travelers. This innovation aims to enhance the overall customer experience by integrating seamlessly with onboard services.
The Technology Behind Futura
At the heart of Futura’s capabilities lies a combination of NVIDIA’s advanced technologies. Using the NVIDIA ACE NIM and Riva ASR NIM microservices, Futura offers realistic facial animations, lip synchronization, and speech conversation. These technologies enable Futura to interact with passengers in lifelike manners, understanding user emotions through Reply’s affective computing module. This emotional intelligence allows Futura to make contextually appropriate recommendations, ensuring a more engaging and tailored experience for each passenger.
Enhancing the Cruise Experience
Futura’s integration with Costa Crociere’s services means it can proactively suggest the best tours and activities, enriching the vacation experience. Whether planning personalized port visits or booking excursions, Futura’s recommendations are designed to cater to the unique preferences of each traveler. This revolutionary approach not only provides convenience but also enhances satisfaction by offering customized experiences based on real-time interactions and data.
Showcasing at SIGGRAPH 2024
The debut of Futura at SIGGRAPH 2024 in Denver, which runs from 28 July to 1 August 2024, marks a significant milestone for both Reply and Costa Crociere. SIGGRAPH is a premier conference on computer graphics and interactive techniques, making it the perfect venue to showcase this cutting-edge innovation. Futura will be presented in the NVIDIA Inception Startups Innovation Zone, highlighting its advanced features and the potential to reshape customer engagement in the travel industry.
Reply’s Role and Expertise
Reply, headquartered in Turin, Italy, has been at the forefront of developing business models based on AI, big data, and digital media since its founding in 1996. With a global presence spanning cities like London, Brussels, Amsterdam, and various locations in the United States, Reply’s expertise in digital transformation and AI has enabled them to create innovative solutions like Futura. Their collaboration with NVIDIA exemplifies their commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technologies to enhance customer experiences across various sectors.
Looking Ahead
As the travel and hospitality industries continue to evolve, technologies like Futura represent the future of customer engagement. By providing personalized, emotionally intelligent interactions, such AI-powered solutions promise to revolutionize how travelers experience and enjoy their journeys. The successful demonstration of Futura at SIGGRAPH 2024 underscores the potential of AI in creating more immersive and satisfying travel experiences, paving the way for broader adoption of digital humans in various customer service applications.