Gianni O’Connor Is Giving Game Consoles AI Personalities So We Can Chat With Them
Black visionary Gianni O’Connor is on a mission to unleash the true power of technology.
Through artificial intelligence, O’Connor is working to build a one-of-a-kind AI personality that will make it easier for users to converse with their game console – sound strange? We’re officially stepping into the future.
Who is Gianni O’Connor?
Gianni O’Connor’s entrepreneurial journey began in 2012 when he launched the music social media site Micsu (later Mozrt). The 29-year-old UK-based entrepreneur then founded the social trading app Trad3r and, most recently, Go Games.
“I love being a Black founder in the AI space because I’m able to develop an AI free of stigma, an AI that can approach people in a completely unbiased way,” said founder Gianni O’Connor in an interview.
O’Connor said his idea for the all-new gaming experience originated from the movies he watched as a child. Sci-fi enthusiasts and gamers have always seen movies where AI systems can communicate with users. Still, it has consistently been recognized as an idea that might seem impossible or a bit too far-fetched.
“The idea to include AI into the consoles actually came from a need to be able to remotely diagnose problems with the hardware of the first iteration.”
Go Games is on a mission to answer the million-dollar question: ‘How could we build the most amazing and smartest handheld console?’ The organization is pushing the power of technology to make it a revolutionary and valuable experience for all.
“We found it very hard to understand what might be wrong with a device with somebody on the other end of the line that isn’t technically savvy,” O’Connor explained.
“So we discussed the inclusion of a virtual assistant, and from that, the idea then evolved into what other beneficial purposes it could serve, which led us to create a device that could engage in conversation and offer up valuable advice.”
The TRDR Console
The second generation TRDR games console will be the first to include an AI mental health tool. The console will come in three colorways representing three of the AI personalities developed by Go Games: Scarlett, Tony, and Julia. In addition, each AI assistant will be available for a half-hour chat with gamers.
Unlike Alexa or Siri, Scarlett won’t tell you the weather forecast. Instead, according to O’Connor, the chatbox will act as “a first-of-its-kind mental health tool for individuals in society who struggle to communicate with their friends,” according to O’Connor.
The future of AI
“When it comes to AI specifically, a lot of what is learned is from the internet, which despite being a fantastic source of information, a small portion of it can also be very harmful and biased,” O’Connor acknowledged.
A recent example is a controversy surrounding ‘FN Meka.’ Capitol Music Group was forced to sever its ties with the AI rapper after facing a lot of online backlash for racial stereotyping and cosplaying Black trauma.
Still, O’Connor is optimistic about the future. “What’s exciting about this is once it has learned all the information, the AI then provides a fresh perspective that could potentially solve political and cultural differences that a human mind wouldn’t be able to do because of our emotions and egos.”
