Latest news with #Persona
Scottish Sun
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Apple created eerily lifelike AI ‘video clone' of me in 20 seconds – can you tell which part of my body is totally fake?
APPLE created an eerily-realistic virtual clone of me using AI in a matter of seconds. I took a trip to the Apple Park HQ in California where I was able to make a brand new "Persona" – a lifelike simulation of my head and hands that I can use online. 11 This isn't a grab from a real video of me – it's a still from a clip of my virtual Persona Credit: Sean Keach 11 The Apple-made Persona is a strikingly accurate rendering of my actual face Credit: Sean Keach 11 This is what The Sun's tech editor Sean Keach really looks like – seen visiting Apple Park HQ for the company's WWDC event in Cupertino, California It's meant to be used for making FaceTime calls or hanging out online while donning the Apple Vision Pro headset. After all, people I'm calling can't see my actual face because it's covered in a great big pair of goggles - so a Persona can mimic my movements instead. Personas have been around since the headset launched back in February 2024, but Apple has just given them a major upgrade to add way more detail in the new visionOS 26 update. And when I met with Apple to try it out, it captured every part of my noggin in excruciating detail. But one part is totally faked – can you tell from the clip above? MAKING A PERSONA Right now, the only way to create a Persona is with an Apple Vision Pro. That's an expensive "spatial computer" – effectively a mixed-reality headset for playing with apps that float in front of your eyes – that costs about £3,500/$3,500. You start the process, remove the headset, spin it around, and let it scan your face. It'll make you blink, smile, and turn your head from side to side. And in a matter of seconds, you've got a virtual 3D rendering of your face created using AI tech that can mimic your movements while wearing the headset. It means if someone calls me up on video, they don't have to stare at a lifeless avatar – and can enjoy my lifelike Persona instead. Apples's big announcements from WWDC with a flurry new features for the gadgets you already own The new Persona is infinitely more realistic than the old one. When the new look was announced on stage during Apple's WWDC 2025 event earlier this week, it got a big reaction from the crowd. "Taking advantage of industry-leading volumetric rendering and machine learning technology, the all-new Personas now have striking expressivity and sharpness," Apple said. "Offering a full side profile view, and remarkable accurate hair, lashes, and complexion." 11 Personas are built for the Apple Vision Pro headset Credit: Apple 11 The headset lets you see floating apps in front of you – offering a "spatial computing" experience Credit: Apple It's genuinely very impressive, and I think it captures my face pretty well. My colleague Jamie Harris reckons it's made me look a bit old – but I was pretty jet-lagged, so maybe my Persona was reflecting my tiredness. In any case, it's pretty much bang on. But if you look closely, there are two parts of me that are totally faked. The first is my glasses, which isn't a part of my body – so it doesn't really count. Instead, you get to pick from a selection of 1,000 different glasses variants. The second part of me that was faked tongue. Yes, the tongue you see my sticking out in the video was not mine. 11 My Persona was a full "mapping" of my face – but the tongue was a total fake Credit: Sean Keach 11 My glasses were also recreated by the Persona, as I wasn't wearing them during the scan Credit: Sean Keach 11 You're able to wave with your actual hands, and the headset cameras pick it up and render it on-screen Credit: Sean Keach I was curious to try it, as the headset didn't scan my tongue, so I wondered what would happen if I unleashed it in the name of journalism. And it turns out that the Apple Vision Pro fills in a vaguely appropriate human tongue. It knows you're sticking out your tongue (and the other facial movements you're making) thanks to internal cameras on the headset. So you can grin with teeth or without, raise both eyebrows or just one, and shake your head from side to side. I'm totally in control of my Persona – the only "AI" involved is in creating the fake face, but the movements are my own. Apple Vision Pro tech specs – the geeky stats The hardware details you're looking for... Storage: 256GB / 512GB / 1TB Display: Micro OLED 3D display system (23 million pixels) Refresh Rates: 90Hz / 96Hz / 100Hz Processor: 8-core M2 CPU (with 10-core GPU) + R1 coprocessor Camera: Stereoscopic 3D main camera system Spatial photo and video capture 18 mm, ƒ/2.00 aperture 6.5 stereo megapixels Sensors: Two high‑resolution main cameras Six world‑facing tracking cameras Four eye‑tracking cameras TrueDepth camera LiDAR Scanner Four inertial measurement units (IMUs) Flicker sensor Ambient light sensor Audio: Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking Personalized Spatial Audio and audio ray tracing Six‑mic array with directional beamforming Supports H2‑to‑H2 ultra‑low‑latency connection to AirPods Pro (2nd generation) with MagSafe Charging Case (USB‑C) Battery: Up to 2 hours of general use / 2.5 hours of video watching Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6 / Bluetooth 5.3 Input: Hands Eyes Voice Supported Input Accessories: Keyboards Trackpads Game controllers Weight: 600 to 650 grams (21.2 to 22.9 ounces) FACE THE FUTURE It's extremely impressive, but there's an obvious downside: very few people can make Personas right now. They're totally tied to the Apple Vision Pro, which is financially out of reach for most people. But this is a sign of things to come. Eventually, these types of headsets won't cost so much – and won't be as massive on your face. 11 Apple showed off a stunningly lifelike Persona during its presentation for the new feature Credit: Apple 11 The new Personas are far more lifelike than the old version (seen on the right) Credit: Apple 11 Personas are meant to represent you on video calls when your actual face can't be filmed (because you're wearing a headset) Credit: Apple Just look at Meta's Orion prototype glasses, which I tested out a few weeks ago in London. They don't have the same visual quality as an Apple Vision Pro, and they'll be wildly expensive, but they're basically only a little larger than a regular pair of glasses. You can imagine in the not-too-distant-future, these types of lifelike avatars will only become more important. Think of a future where smartphones are increasingly less common as people switch to "spatial computers" on their faces. They'll be able to scan what you see, take pictures wherever you go, and let you make video calls beamed directly to your eyes. When we get to that point, tech like Personas will become an essential part of video calling. And if they look this good now, imagine how realistic they'll be in 10 years.
The Sun
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Apple created eerily lifelike AI ‘video clone' of me in 20 seconds – can you tell which part of my body is totally fake?
APPLE created an eerily-realistic virtual clone of me using AI in a matter of seconds. I took a trip to the Apple Park HQ in California where I was able to make a brand new "Persona" – a lifelike simulation of my head and hands that I can use online. 11 11 It's meant to be used for making FaceTime calls or hanging out online while donning the Apple Vision Pro headset. After all, people I'm calling can't see my actual face because it's covered in a great big pair of goggles - so a Persona can mimic my movements instead. Personas have been around since the headset launched back in February 2024, but Apple has just given them a major upgrade to add way more detail in the new visionOS 26 update. And when I met with Apple to try it out, it captured every part of my noggin in excruciating detail. But one part is totally faked – can you tell from the clip above? MAKING A PERSONA Right now, the only way to create a Persona is with an Apple Vision Pro. That's an expensive "spatial computer" – effectively a mixed-reality headset for playing with apps that float in front of your eyes – that costs about £3,500/$3,500. You start the process, remove the headset, spin it around, and let it scan your face. It'll make you blink, smile, and turn your head from side to side. And in a matter of seconds, you've got a virtual 3D rendering of your face created using AI tech that can mimic your movements while wearing the headset. It means if someone calls me up on video, they don't have to stare at a lifeless avatar – and can enjoy my lifelike Persona instead. Apples's big announcements from WWDC with a flurry new features for the gadgets you already own The new Persona is infinitely more realistic than the old one. When the new look was announced on stage during Apple's WWDC 2025 event earlier this week, it got a big reaction from the crowd. "Taking advantage of industry-leading volumetric rendering and machine learning technology, the all-new Personas now have striking expressivity and sharpness," Apple said. "Offering a full side profile view, and remarkable accurate hair, lashes, and complexion." 11 It's genuinely very impressive, and I think it captures my face pretty well. My colleague Jamie Harris reckons it's made me look a bit old – but I was pretty jet-lagged, so maybe my Persona was reflecting my tiredness. In any case, it's pretty much bang on. But if you look closely, there are two parts of me that are totally faked. The first is my glasses, which isn't a part of my body – so it doesn't really count. Instead, you get to pick from a selection of 1,000 different glasses variants. The second part of me that was faked tongue. Yes, the tongue you see my sticking out in the video was not mine. 11 11 11 I was curious to try it, as the headset didn't scan my tongue, so I wondered what would happen if I unleashed it in the name of journalism. And it turns out that the Apple Vision Pro fills in a vaguely appropriate human tongue. It knows you're sticking out your tongue (and the other facial movements you're making) thanks to internal cameras on the headset. So you can grin with teeth or without, raise both eyebrows or just one, and shake your head from side to side. I'm totally in control of my Persona – the only "AI" involved is in creating the fake face, but the movements are my own. Apple Vision Pro tech specs – the geeky stats The hardware details you're looking for... Storage: 256GB / 512GB / 1TB Display: Micro OLED 3D display system (23 million pixels) Refresh Rates: 90Hz / 96Hz / 100Hz Processor: 8-core M2 CPU (with 10-core GPU) + R1 coprocessor Camera: Stereoscopic 3D main camera system Spatial photo and video capture 18 mm, ƒ/2.00 aperture 6.5 stereo megapixels Sensors: Two high‑resolution main cameras Six world‑facing tracking cameras Four eye‑tracking cameras TrueDepth camera LiDAR Scanner Four inertial measurement units (IMUs) Flicker sensor Ambient light sensor Audio: Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking Personalized Spatial Audio and audio ray tracing Six‑mic array with directional beamforming Supports H2‑to‑H2 ultra‑low‑latency connection to AirPods Pro (2nd generation) with MagSafe Charging Case (USB‑C) Battery: Up to 2 hours of general use / 2.5 hours of video watching Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6 / Bluetooth 5.3 Input: Hands Eyes Voice Supported Input Accessories: Keyboards Trackpads Game controllers Weight: 600 to 650 grams (21.2 to 22.9 ounces) FACE THE FUTURE It's extremely impressive, but there's an obvious downside: very few people can make Personas right now. They're totally tied to the Apple Vision Pro, which is financially out of reach for most people. But this is a sign of things to come. Eventually, these types of headsets won't cost so much – and won't be as massive on your face. 11 11 11 Just look at Meta 's Orion prototype glasses, which I tested out a few weeks ago in London. They don't have the same visual quality as an Apple Vision Pro, and they'll be wildly expensive, but they're basically only a little larger than a regular pair of glasses. You can imagine in the not-too-distant-future, these types of lifelike avatars will only become more important. Think of a future where smartphones are increasingly less common as people switch to "spatial computers" on their faces. They'll be able to scan what you see, take pictures wherever you go, and let you make video calls beamed directly to your eyes. When we get to that point, tech like Personas will become an essential part of video calling. And if they look this good now, imagine how realistic they'll be in 10 years.
The Irish Sun
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Apple created eerily lifelike AI ‘video clone' of me in 20 seconds – can you tell which part of my body is totally fake?
APPLE created an eerily-realistic virtual clone of me using AI in a matter of seconds. I took a trip to the Apple Park HQ in California where I was able to make a brand new "Persona" – a lifelike simulation of my head and hands that I can use online. Advertisement 11 This isn't a grab from a real video of me – it's a still from a clip of my virtual Persona Credit: Sean Keach 11 The Apple-made Persona is a strikingly accurate rendering of my actual face Credit: Sean Keach 11 This is what The Sun's tech editor Sean Keach really looks like – seen visiting Apple Park HQ for the company's WWDC event in Cupertino, California It's meant to be used for making FaceTime calls or hanging out online while donning the After all, people I'm calling can't see my actual face because it's covered in a great big pair of goggles - so a Persona can mimic my movements instead. Personas have been around since the headset launched back in February 2024, but Apple has just given them a major upgrade to add way more detail in the new visionOS 26 update. And when Advertisement Read more on Apple MAKING A PERSONA Right now, the only way to create a Persona is with an Apple Vision Pro. That's an expensive "spatial computer" – effectively a mixed-reality headset for playing with apps that You start the process, remove the headset, spin it around, and let it scan your face. It'll make you blink, smile, and turn your head from side to side. Advertisement Most read in Phones & Gadgets And in a matter of seconds, you've got a virtual 3D rendering of your face created using AI tech that can mimic your movements while wearing the headset. It means if someone calls me up on video, they don't have to stare at a lifeless avatar – and can enjoy my lifelike Persona instead. Apples's big announcements from WWDC with a flurry new features for the gadgets you already own The new Persona is infinitely more realistic than the old one. When the new look was announced on stage during Apple's "Taking advantage of industry-leading volumetric rendering and machine learning technology, the all-new Personas now have striking expressivity and sharpness," Apple said. Advertisement "Offering a full side profile view, and remarkable accurate hair, lashes, and complexion." 11 Personas are built for the Apple Vision Pro headset Credit: Apple 11 The headset lets you see floating apps in front of you – offering a "spatial computing" experience Credit: Apple It's genuinely very impressive, and I think it captures my face pretty well. Advertisement My colleague Jamie Harris reckons it's made me look a bit old – but I was pretty jet-lagged, so maybe my Persona was reflecting my tiredness. In any case, it's pretty much bang on. But if you look closely, there are two parts of me that are totally faked. The first is my glasses, which isn't a part of my body – so it doesn't really count. Advertisement Instead, you get to pick from a selection of 1,000 different glasses variants. The second part of me that was faked tongue. Yes, the tongue you see my sticking out in the video was not mine. 11 My Persona was a full "mapping" of my face – but the tongue was a total fake Credit: Sean Keach Advertisement 11 My glasses were also recreated by the Persona, as I wasn't wearing them during the scan Credit: Sean Keach 11 You're able to wave with your actual hands, and the headset cameras pick it up and render it on-screen Credit: Sean Keach I was curious to try it, as the headset didn't scan my tongue, so I wondered what would happen if I unleashed it in the name of journalism. And it turns out that the Apple Vision Pro fills in a vaguely appropriate human tongue. Advertisement It knows you're sticking out your tongue (and the other facial movements you're making) thanks to internal cameras on the headset. So you can grin with teeth or without, raise both eyebrows or just one, and shake your head from side to side. I'm totally in control of my Persona – the only "AI" involved is in creating the fake face, but the movements are my own. Apple Vision Pro tech specs – the geeky stats The hardware details you're looking for... Storage: 256GB / 512GB / 1TB Display: Micro OLED 3D display system (23 million pixels) Refresh Rates: 90Hz / 96Hz / 100Hz Processor: 8-core M2 CPU (with 10-core GPU) + R1 coprocessor Camera: Stereoscopic 3D main camera system Spatial photo and video capture 18 mm, ƒ/2.00 aperture 6.5 stereo megapixels Sensors: Two high‑resolution main cameras Six world‑facing tracking cameras Four eye‑tracking cameras TrueDepth camera LiDAR Scanner Four inertial measurement units (IMUs) Flicker sensor Ambient light sensor Audio: Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking Personalized Spatial Audio and audio ray tracing Six‑mic array with directional beamforming Supports H2‑to‑H2 ultra‑low‑latency connection to AirPods Pro (2nd generation) with MagSafe Charging Case (USB‑C) Battery: Up to 2 hours of general use / 2.5 hours of video watching Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6 / Bluetooth 5.3 Input: Hands Eyes Voice Supported Input Accessories : Keyboards Trackpads Game controllers Weight: 600 to 650 grams (21.2 to 22.9 ounces) FACE THE FUTURE It's extremely impressive, but there's an obvious downside: very few people can make Personas right now. They're totally tied to the Apple Vision Pro, which is financially out of reach for most people. Advertisement But this is a sign of things to come. Eventually, these types of headsets won't cost so much – and won't be as massive on your face. 11 Apple showed off a stunningly lifelike Persona during its presentation for the new feature Credit: Apple 11 The new Personas are far more lifelike than the old version (seen on the right) Credit: Apple Advertisement 11 Personas are meant to represent you on video calls when your actual face can't be filmed (because you're wearing a headset) Credit: Apple Just look at Meta's They don't have the same visual quality as an Apple Vision Pro, and they'll be wildly expensive, but they're basically only a little larger than a regular pair of glasses. You can imagine in the not-too-distant-future, these types of lifelike avatars will only become more important. Advertisement Think of a future where smartphones are increasingly less common as They'll be able to scan what you see, take pictures wherever you go, and let you make video calls beamed directly to your eyes. When we get to that point, tech like Personas will become an essential part of video calling. And if they look this good now, imagine how realistic they'll be in 10 years. Advertisement Apple Vision Pro pricing – how much does it cost? Here's what you'll pay... In the United Kingdom: Apple Vision Pro 256GB / 512GB / 1TB – £3,499 / £3,699 / £3,899 Zeiss Optical Inserts (optional) Readers / Prescription – £99 / £149 AppleCare+ protection – £499 In the United States: Apple Vision Pro 256GB / 512GB / 1TB – $3,499 / $3,699 / $3,899 Zeiss Optical Inserts (optional) Readers / Prescription – $99 / $149 AppleCare+ protection – $499
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Xbox Games Showcase 2025: Persona 4 Remake, Revival, Announced
After voice actors Erin Fitzgerald and Yuri Lowenthal, who play Chie and Yosuke in the Persona 4 series of games, respectively, and after a new domain, hinting at something Persona 4 related was uncovered in March, Persona 4 Revival, a full-fledged 3D remake, was finally announced during Xbox Games Showcase 2025. The teaser trailer, which is just short of 50 seconds, shows some of the sights to be found in the rural town of Inaba, including Naganaki Shrine, Yasogami High School and the Central Shopping District. In-between shots, a tower of old CRT TVs are shown turning on and off before the red glow of Persona 4's infamous Midnight Channel comes on screen. To wrap things off, the player protagonist, canonically named Yu Narukami, can be seen lightly jogging from the shrine into the shopping district, which serves to show off the game's revamped visuals. Like in the case of Persona 3 Reload, which was similarly a ground-up remake of a PlayStation 2 classic, fans can expect Persona 4 Revival to bring, beyond said revamped visuals, numerous quality of life changes, retouched gameplay mechanics and more. Fans are also speculating that Persona 4 Revival might correct its outdated views on especially gender and sexuality, alongside other minor story changes. No new characters are expected to be introduced, as was the case with Persona 4 Golden or with Persona 5 Royal, rather, Persona 4 Revival is likely to introduce additional Personas, outfits and animated cutscenes. In a letter from Persona 4 Revival Kazuhisa Wada, he states that the game will be a 'fresh and surprising product for both newcomers and long-time fans' and that the studio he helms, P-STUDIO, is 'actively preparing for the future development of the Persona series.' Persona 6, anyone? Meanwhile, CGM's Zubi Khan, in his 9/10 review, has appreciated the most recent Persona remake, Persona 3 Reload, dubbing it 'a radiant remake'. Persona 4 Revival will release on Xbox Series X|S, Game Pass, PlayStation 5, and Steam. Be sure to check out all of the other announcements from the Xbox Games Showcase
The Sun
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
New Release of The Persona5 Series, The Phantom X Confirms Southeast Asia Release Date. Pre-registration Is Now Open
TAIPEI, TAIWAN - Media OutReach Newswire - 29 May 2025 - Following successful launches in the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Macau SARs, Taiwan region, and South Korea in April 2024, Persona5: The Phantom X finally announced the Southeast Asia release date. The highly anticipated title will be available on mobile devices and PC on July 3, 2025, bringing more of the series' stylish turn-based combat and an entirely new cast of Phantom Thieves. Developed through a collaboration between Atlus' P-Studio and Chinese developer Black Wing Games, Persona5: The Phantom X is a mobile-optimised title that transports players back to the world of Persona5, allowing players to control Wonder, a second-year high school student at Kokatsu Academy, whose mundane life takes a dramatic turn after encountering a mysterious owl-like creature named Lufel. As Wonder unravels the truth behind a society losing its desire, players will form a new team of Phantom Thieves and embark on a mission to restore this vital human essence. Promotional Video: As a live-service title, Persona5: The Phantom X promises an ever-evolving adventure. The game features familiar gameplay pillars from the mainline series—including turn-based combat, dungeon crawling, time management, and social bonding—while introducing new systems unique to this entry. Players can take on part-time jobs, join after-school clubs, strengthen their Personas, and develop social stats, all within a vibrant, original narrative. Notably, fan-favourite Persona characters, such as Joker, Ann Takamaki, and Ryuji Sakamoto, will make special appearances via exclusive in-game contracts. New additions to the series include the Velvet Trials, a PvE-focused challenge mode, an expanded Mementos to explore, mini-games, and the ability to form or join Guilds, offering players new avenues for cooperative and competitive play. Since its regional debut, Persona5: The Phantom X has received acclaim for its engaging story and dynamic new cast, qualities fans have praised as being remarkably in line with the high standards of the original Persona5. This strong reception is no surprise, as the development team includes veteran creators such as the General Producer Kazuhisa Wada, Composer Ryota Kozuka and Character Design Shigenori Soejima. Pre-registration is now open via the iOS App Store and Google Play, with exclusive milestone-based rewards to be distributed at launch through in-game mail. Current reward tiers include: • 50,000 pre-registrations: Free contract draws ×10 • 100,000 pre-registrations: Free weapon draws ×5 • 200,000 pre-registrations: Free Outfit for Protagonist (More milestone rewards to be revealed soon.) The official website of Persona5: The Phantom X has also launched, offering more information and resources for eager fans. The game launches in Southeast Asia on July 3, 2025 for mobile and PC. For more updates and community engagement, follow our official channels.
