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Kinetix is an AI startup that brings emotes into video games and virtual universes. Today, they announced ‘Text2Emotes:’ a generative AI techniqe which heralds the dawn of a new age in user-generated content (UGC). Anyone can create 3D animations or emotes from a text prompt.
Text2Emotes is one of the very first examples of AI that can produce high-quality 3D animations, or emotes (animations that express emotion) from simple text input. Users can enter well-known dances like ‘griddy,’ or literal prompts such as “I’m angry”, and watch their avatars come alive through AI-generated animations. The AI was trained using the vast proprietary dataset that Kinetix has created over the past three years. It produces more advanced content and is industry-specific than other models that rely on limited academic datasets.
Kinetix is the only company that has developed a format for animations that can be shared and saved across games and virtual universes. This means that any avatar in any game or metaverse that uses the Kinetix SDK, including those created with Kinetix, can use emotes. Publishers and game developers can now introduce a new generation of user-generated content to their games, allowing users to create their own in-game emoticons or import viral trends.
Emotes are a feature that has been in use by MMOs such as World of Warcraft since over 20 years. However, they have now become a standard for gaming content, thanks to games like Fortnite or PUBG. UGC has been a key component of the success of Roblox and other gaming platforms. It is now set to be the standard in helping games to generate long-term, sustainable revenue. Videos tagged with #emote have received over 2.4 billion views alone on TikTok.
Yassine T. Tahi, CEO of Kinetix and co-founder, said:
As we all know, UGC has become the foundation of modern gaming. Enabling gamers to create their own content using AI on the fly will be an important part of that. Since two years ago, we have been working on improving our AI models, and the animations they generate. First, using video inputs, and now, even more exciting, by using a simple text message. This technology has a clear use in gaming. Emotes are an important part of user self-expression, as well as a revenue generator for game makers. Our AI-powered emotes technology is already being used by some of our best-known developers.
Jay Lee, Global Director of Ecosystem for the leading virtual world platform ZEPETO (which has over 400 million users worldwide and is operated by NAVER Z – a Kinetix Partner Company), added:
The Text2Emotes function from Kinetix is a great example of generative AI being used in virtual worlds. It could open up a whole new level of expression for ZEPETO’s users. It will give the ZEPETO Community a more immersive social experience when it is integrated.
Kinetix’s video-to animation AI and non-code editing tools have made it possible for anyone to create 3D animated films. 3D animation was traditionally a time-consuming and expensive process that required 3D experts and specialist hardware and software. Text2Emotes is being added to Kinetix Studio, the existing Kinetix SDK and an ever-growing library of over 1,000 emotes for PC, console and mobile. Kinetix SDK has been integrated into more than 10 games and virtual worlds, including The Sandbox. Text2Emotes API will be available later this year.
