Text Academy Podcast #41: When the guest is an avatar - Pasquale de Sapio on AI Twins
In the Text Akademie Foundation’s video podcast «AI and Society—Paths to the New World,» host Christoph Soltmannowski speaks with the digital twin of audio engineer and AI expert Pasquale de Sapio. What makes this special is that the guest isn’t physically present—but appears as an AI-powered avatar.
What happens when a podcast guest is not human at all - at least not in the conventional sense? This is precisely the experiment that the current episode attempts. De Sapio, a graduate of the SAE Institute and experienced producer with stations in radio, film and music, takes part in the conversation as a so-called AI twin. His digital twin is based on his real statements, his voice and his specialist knowledge - and thus raises fundamental questions: Where does the human end, where does the machine begin?
What can an AI twin do - and what can't it do? AI twins on the rise: opportunity and risk at the same time
De Sapio initially sees enormous potential in AI twins: scalability, multilingualism and efficiency gains make digital twins a promising tool in media production. At the same time, he warns of risks such as a loss of trust and a lack of transparency. The key question is: how can the technology be used without losing dignity and trust?
The discussion shows how profoundly the creative industry is changing. Traditional job profiles are increasingly giving way to hybrid profiles - from content creator to prompt designer. Although AI is massively accelerating creative processes, judgment and responsibility must remain with humans. Empathy, cultural sensitivity and a willingness to learn are the key skills of the future.
As the founder of AI Media Agency, de Sapio sees his company as a bridge between technology and design. New workflows, a deep understanding of AI tools and a focus on the idea rather than the tool itself distinguish the approach from that of a traditional agency. Clients are often surprised at how quickly the first visualizations are created - and how they serve as a new basis for discussion.
Making visible and sharing knowledge: AMA Award and Creator Day
Two initiatives are particularly close to de Sapio's heart: The AMA Award makes innovative AI projects visible, while the Creator Day provides practical knowledge on AI-supported content production. Both are responses to the growing need for exchange and further training in an industry undergoing radical change.
The podcast episode on Spotify
The video podcast «AI and Society—Paths to a New World,» hosted by Christoph Soltmannowski, is produced by the Text Akademie Foundation. Two episodes are released each month on Spotify, YouTube and the other major podcast platforms.
