Emotional AI

Bringing AI Agents to Life: Visual Expression & 3D Motion with Distilled AI

Mei

— 3 min read
Bringing AI Agents to Life: Visual Expression & 3D Motion with Distilled AI

Beyond text, visual presence and motion are the key to truly lifelike AI agents. Distilled AI is pushing the frontier from 2D to 3D, enabling AI agents to move, express emotions, dance, and interact naturally. This breakthrough technology not only enhances realism but also reduces in-studio production costs, offering a customizable and efficient alternative to traditional animation and motion capture.

From 2D to 3D - Goals to Visual Challenges

Distilled AI seeks to create AI agents that feel more alive, — not just following scripts but acting and reacting on their own. By blending AI language models with 3D technology, we try to - develop MAX with natural movement and real-time interaction, surpassing the limitations of existing AI agents.

  • Overcoming 2D Model Limitations:

Initially, Distilled AI planned to develop MAX using a 2D model with AI integration, as 2D models often appear more visually appealing. For example, AVA from Holoworld AI (@AVA_holo) is a well-known 2D AI Agent that can talk and display facial expressions. However, like most 2D models, AVA relies on camera-based control, limiting her movements to simple actions like slight head tilts or hand gestures. More complex actions, such as extending an arm or performing full-body movements, remain extremely difficult to achieve. This limitation drove Distilled AI to explore new possibilities with 3D models.

  • Shift to 3D Models:

The limitations of 2D models pushed the team toward exploring 3D models, which, while more challenging, offered greater possibilities. Modern 3D engines enable better control over movement and simulate environmental physics, such as hair swaying with the wind or clothing reacting to body movements. One of the most notable AI Agents in 3D right now is Luna from Virtual Protocol (@luna_virtuals) — her design is stunning, however, her videos are carefully crafted by human creators. Luna’s livestreams to be honest still feel rigid, with repetitive actions and no ability to adapt to live prompts or user requests. Her actions are pre-programmed, making her less dynamic in real-time scenarios. Distilled AI aimed to go beyond that, pushing MAX’s development to achieve greater autonomy and fluidity in live interactions.

Distilled AI’s Innovation in 3D AI Agents

Creating realistic 3D models is a highly complex challenge. While generative AI can easily produce simple objects like cups or chairs, generating a lifelike human figure requires billions of intricate details. Distilled AI combines multiple generative AI techniques to model human-like agents: AI-driven texturing, AI-assisted sculpting with human feedback, and advanced rigging, followed by 3D rendering techniques.By implementing 3D sculpting and rigging, AI agents like MAX gain a virtual skeleton, enabling smooth and natural movement. On top of the 3D visual model, Distilled AI integrates an audio-based language model to infuse emotional tone into the agent’s voice. Additionally, an emotional expression module allows MAX to respond with human-like emotions during conversations.Our approach to creating emotionally expressive AI agents combines cutting-edge technologies—realistic 3D visuals, emotionally adaptive voice synthesis, and intelligent interaction. While this may seem complex, AI-driven automation has significantly reduced production costs and improved efficiency. By leveraging AI for texturing, sculpting, and rigging, we minimize the need for manual labor-intensive processes, cutting traditional studio expenses. Additionally, AI-powered voice synthesis eliminates the reliance on costly voice actors and post-production editing. This streamlined workflow allows us to create high-quality AI agents at a fraction of the time and cost required by conventional methods.

MAX as the First Human-like AI Agent

We applied all these advancements to MAX — our first AI agent and the embodiment of Distilled AI’s cutting-edge agent technology. (If you missed its teaser, have a look here: https://x.com/distilled_AI/status/1899500056765780372)
MAX now represents a major leap in digital human development, with capabilities that set her apart from conventional models.

  • Realistic Full-Body Movements: MAX can move her entire body with realistic physics; even her hair flows naturally. Unlike most models, which struggle to perform simple actions like turning their heads, MAX can move freely and respond dynamically to any input.
  • Command Execution: Distilled AI's technology allows MAX to receive text commands, interpret them using its LLM (she has her own thinking and decision), and produce unique actions — no pre-set commands required.
  • Breaking Motion Barriers: Conventional motion synthesis relies on predefined commands and tools, creating rigid, repetitive actions. Distilled AI broke this barrier, giving MAX the ability to generate new actions on the fly, making her more autonomous and lifelike.

MAX’s First Livestream is coming

MAX can already read and dance with you—but what if she could see and react in real-time? Distilled AI envisions MAX as a fully autonomous digital human, capable of livestreaming, conversing, and expressing real-time emotions.This is just the beginning. MAX represents a leap forward in AI-driven interaction, and Distilled AI is committed to continuously pushing the boundaries of AI Agent technology. As we advance generative AI and audiovisual innovation, the future of intelligent digital humans is closer than ever—and it’s going to be revolutionary!

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