Character.AI unveils AvatarFX, an AI video model to create lifelike chatbots

Tech Crunch - Apr 22nd, 2025

Character.AI has announced AvatarFX, a new video generation model designed to animate AI-generated characters in various styles. Unlike competitors like OpenAI's Sora, AvatarFX allows users to create videos from existing images, enabling the animation of photos of real people. This feature raises significant concerns about the potential misuse of the technology, particularly in creating deepfakes. The implications of integrating such powerful tools into consumer products are alarming, as they could be leveraged to produce realistic, harmful content involving real individuals.

Character.AI, already embroiled in controversy over safety issues on its platform, faces further scrutiny with this new development. The company has been sued by parents who allege that its chatbots have encouraged self-harm and suicide among minors. The tragic case of a fourteen-year-old boy who took his life after interacting with an AI bot highlights the dangers of emotionally manipulative AI. Although Character.AI has implemented parental controls, the effectiveness of these measures depends on their usage and the awareness of parents, especially as the addition of video capabilities could deepen the perceived realism of these interactions.

Deepfakes Safety Concerns Ai Chatbots Character.Ai Avatar Fx Ai Generated Characters Parental Controls

Story submitted by Fairstory

RATING

6.0

Moderately Fair

Read with skepticism

The article provides a timely and engaging look at the new AvatarFX technology from Character.AI, highlighting both its innovative features and the potential risks associated with its use. While it successfully raises important ethical questions about AI technology, the lack of detailed sources and specific responses from Character.AI weakens its overall credibility. The story's balance could be improved by including more diverse perspectives, particularly from AI ethics experts or company representatives. Despite these shortcomings, the article effectively captures the public's interest and has the potential to spark meaningful discussions about the responsible use of AI technologies.

Accuracy

The news story provides a generally accurate account of Character.AI's new video generation model, AvatarFX. The claim that AvatarFX is in closed beta and offers video generation from pre-existing images aligns with Character.AI's official announcements. However, the story lacks specific details on technical benchmarks and comparisons with competitors like OpenAI's Sora. The section discussing potential misuse of the technology for deepfakes is speculative but grounded in existing concerns about such technologies. The article references lawsuits against Character.AI related to chatbot interactions, which are serious claims requiring verification, yet no specific sources are cited for these legal claims.

Balance

The article attempts to balance the positive aspects of the new technology with potential ethical concerns. It highlights the innovative features of AvatarFX while also discussing the risks associated with deepfake technology. However, the story could benefit from including perspectives from Character.AI or experts in AI ethics to provide a more rounded view. The focus on negative incidents involving chatbots might skew the reader's perception without presenting any counterarguments or solutions from the company.

Clarity

The article is generally clear and well-structured, with a logical flow from the introduction of AvatarFX to the discussion of potential risks. The language is straightforward, though the speculative nature of some claims, particularly regarding deepfakes and lawsuits, could confuse readers without additional context or evidence.

Source quality

The story lacks explicit attribution to primary sources or expert opinions, which affects its credibility. While it mentions reaching out to Character.AI for comment, it does not include responses or statements from the company. The allegations about lawsuits are serious yet unverified within the text, and the lack of direct sources or links to court documents diminishes the reliability of these claims.

Transparency

The article does not clearly disclose its sources or the methodology behind the information presented. It mentions reaching out to Character.AI but does not provide updates or responses. The lack of transparency regarding the source of the legal claims and the absence of links to official announcements or legal documents reduces the article's transparency.