Abstract:

The current storm of generative AI has spawned a whole bunch of innovative tools, including human avatar generators. The human avatar market is expected to reach $528 billion by 2030 (EMERGEN Research) and is growing at an incredible 46% annually. The platforms (such as Synthesia, D- ID and many others) offer instant video generation based on a generic avatar or an avatar based on a human, generated only by his photo or a short video. Most platforms support a text-to-speech mechanism that allows any text to be turned into an avatar-based live video. The platforms also offer ChatGPT integration that enables live chat with an avatar.
The impressive technology is being used today (June 2023) for marketing, communications, social networking, gaming and education. The potential in the education market is enormous. From online courses to in-person tutoring to metaverse lectures and social learning activities. At the same time, technology raises fundamental questions about the process and outcome of learning when interaction is AI and avatar based.
We (researchers at the Faculty of Instructional Technologies, HIT) conducted a comparative study to evaluate the avatar-based learning experience with the human one. We created an avatar for one of our faculty members (Dr. Eran Gal) and conducted research with our undergraduate and graduate students. The goal of the research was to evaluate the learning experience (based on literature review and previous studies) for three learning videos presenting the same content: 1. The human lecture (Dr. Eran Gal). 2. The video with a human avatar. 3. The AI-generated digital avatar
Results show significant differences in learning experience, learning outcomes and general perception of the lecturer. Students in this study prefer the human teacher and the human avatar (no differences between the two) but strongly refrain from the synthetic avatar when presented with a learning video.
Results apply to the future and current work needed to be done to better harness the technology for effective educational use. On the pedagogical side we can indicate advantages and disadvantages of the human next to the synthetic avatar. On the technological side we can point to the desired production process and tool features that will allow avatar studios to produce and added value in online learning and learning in general.

Keywords:

AI, Generative AI, Human Avatar, Video for learning, Learning effectiveness, learning experience.