Dr Alan Bekker on Multimodal Avatars, Education, and Authentic Digital Connections

In today’s conversation, hosts BAILeY and Frank La Vigne sit down with Dr. Alan Becker, co-founder and CEO of E Self AI and former co-founder of Voca AI, which was acquired by Snap in 2020. Dr. Becker brings a powerhouse combination of academic expertise and entrepreneurial experience, with a PhD in machine learning and AI and research spanning voice, NLP, and computer vision. This episode dives into how E Self AI is transforming human-machine interaction by moving beyond chat and voice—introducing real-time face-to-face video AI assistants. Imagine smarter digital avatars that don’t just talk but engage visually and contextually, delivering personalized tutoring, streamlined customer service, and even real estate tours. Along the way, the conversation goes deep: they discuss the pyramid of engagement from text to voice to fully visual interaction, and what the next generation of AI means for education, accessibility, and the way we connect with each other. Dr. Becker offers insights from his research on multimodal AI and reflects on the very philosophical questions these new technologies raise—like authenticity, connection, and the future of what we call “real.” Whether you’re curious about the engineering magic behind lifelike avatars, the ethical dilemmas of AI interviews, or how technology is reshaping the learning experience, this episode is a fascinating look at where artificial intelligence—and humanity—are headed next. Strap in, update your firmware, and get ready to stay Data Driven. ESelf Website: https://www.eself.ai/TimeStamps 00:00 "Exploring AI with Dr. Becker" 05:49 Accessibility Drives eSelf's Innovation Journey 06:58 Advanced Voice Interaction Evolution 11:33 Personalized Tutoring via Multimodal AI 14:33 AI in Sci-Fi and Real Life 16:21 Understanding Users Via Encoding Algorithms 19:44 Digital Twin to AI Avatars Transition 23:14 AI Misunderstandings Due to Background Noise 27:19 AI's Role in Job Interviews 32:36 Nvidia Tool Alters Eye Contact 35:15 AI-Human Communication Blur 38:31 Reality and Gaming Perception Debate 41:51 Influencer Reality vs. Perception 44:45 Identity and Authenticity Dilemma 48:30 "Influencer's Authenticity vs. Flashiness" 53:22 Fake Celeb Math Explainer TikToks 56:10 "AI's Future: Human-Like Interaction" 57:07 Data-Driven Focus