This website lets you talk to an AI version of Dr. Jose Rizal
If you could talk to Dr. Jose Rizal, what question would you ask him?
You can actually talk to a version of the Philippine National Hero through a new website called "Conversations with Rizal."
In celebration of Rizal Day, veteran voiceover artist Pocholo Gonzales launched an AI where users can chat it up with the famous writer. This year, the national hero marks his 128th death anniversary.
Gonzales wrote in a Facebook post that the project was 20 years in the making. It was developed through CreatiVoices Labs and is said to be "not your typical AI experience."
The project is an AI agent, a software program that can interact with its environment, collect data, and use the data to perform self-determined tasks to meet predetermined goals, as per Amazon Web Services.
Gonzales shared that the AI draws from an extensive knowledge base including Rizal's personal diaries, his works Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, and other historical documents.
"But what sets it apart is its ability to connect Rizal's wisdom to contemporary challenges while maintaining historical authenticity," he said.
The voiceover artist added that the AI "maintains strict historical accuracy" and gracefully acknowledges limitations when asked about modern issues beyond his time.
He also lent his voice to the project, recording phrases as the 35-year-old Rizal and paying attention to details including his "Spanish-influenced Tagalog and Laguna accent."
"As we navigate the challenges of the modern world, perhaps what we need most is the wisdom of our past, presented in a way that speaks to our present. Ask Rizal offers exactly that–a bridge between generations, making our national hero's insights more accessible and relevant than ever before," Gonzales said.
Users can talk to the AI Rizal in Tagalog, Spanish, English, German, or any other language the hero was fluent in.
The website is accessible through www.askrizal.org. From the home page, find Ask Rizal on the menu bar. Scroll down until you're at the Chat With Rizal section and simply enter any query to start talking to the AI agent.
