"Tales about artificial beings have sparked
fascination and fear for centuries; now the tales are turning into reality.."

Researchers at the University of Iowa are using artificial intelligence programs to create computer simulations of human soldiers to help test the performance of future U.S. Army combat systems.

The Japanese government has developed a virtual human to act as one of its ambassadors to ASEAN countries. The author address the implications of this move and the characteristics of Japanese culture that make them more receptive to virtual humans and robots.

Researchers in Spain have developed a realistic voice synthesizing technology that could allow the creation of "voice fonts" for famous voices such as Elvis or Abraham Lincoln. The author speculates on the artistic and political implications of this technology.

Software cyberbabes, created by powerful computers, sophisticated modelling packages and active imaginations are getting extremely human-like. But they raise questions about what people might be able to do with the models if they get too realistic and we cannot tell the difference anymore.

In the foreword for a new book on Virtual Humans, Ray Kurzweil argues that "by the end of this decade, we will have full-immersion visual-auditory environments, populated by realistic-looking virtual humans."

Realistic, digital, human avatars on home computers are approaching reality as graphic processors continue to evolve.

Digimask, a British technology company, has developed a method for creating a virtual twin that can be used to represent users in the digital realm.

Special effects artists discuss the future potential of 'synthespians' or digitized actors that are increasingly being used instead of real actors in movies.

Bruce Damer discusses the advances made in constructing elaborate digital worlds populated with digital avatars of real people interacting with bots, agents, and exotic life forms.