Kids wait in line to talk to a large yellow alien inflatable.

ChatCreatures

Overview

ChatCreatures are custom-built, AI-powered “talking” inflatables designed to connect with audiences of all ages. Built through the creative inspiration of artist Dorne Pentes, Interactive Knowledge partnered with Pentes Studios to develop a product concept with boundless options. To date, ChatCreatures have delighted audiences at museums, festivals, libraries, state fairs, and a variety of other venues. Interested in including a ChatCreature at your institution or event? Learn more at https://chatcreatures.com/.

More details

Challenge

Artist Dorne Pentes creates delightful custom inflatables built to clients’ needs. Dorne wanted to use AI to allow guests to have conversations with his inflatables, making the inflatables both useful and engaging. Dorne wanted to create a model that could be adjusted to various situations and could accommodate different inflatable “personalities” as well. The form factor needed to function in various spaces and use cases, such as an outdoor festival installed for a few days or an indoor museum installed for consistent use.

Photo of an inflatable cow in an outdoor space near a red brick building

Approach

IK trained AI models to engage and interact with a wide variety of audiences with the voice and personality of a character curated for a specific environment. We considered how to help the AI have natural conversations with people without making the experience feel robotic or tedious. We trained the AI model to understand the boundaries of the conversation– when to redirect, express concern, and offer a non-response when a question is off-topic or inappropriate. With Dorne’s assistance in shaping the character’s personality, we trained the AI to be the character and respond as the visitor would expect that character to respond. After testing a variety of form factors, we landed on using a mounted tablet that the visitor uses to start the conversation; the system connects to lights and speakers in the inflatable, creating a dynamic experience that keeps visitors engaged.

Key Features

Well-trained AI: AI trained to stay on topic, keep the user engaged, and close the conversation in a natural way while maintaining clear boundaries.
High Conversion UX/UI: Engaging and on-brand tablet interface encourages visitors to engage with the AI chatbot.
Custom Creation: Solid model allows for efficient and cost-effective modifications to create a custom character.

Results

Meet our favorite ChatCreatures!

Screenshot of Apollo, a red inflatable alien shaped like a heart — Apollo: A time-and-space-traveling alien from Planet Claire, Apollo is radiant, musical, and mischievously wise. Apollo exists to spread love, kindness, curiosity, and joy, which he’s done effectively at events like Coracle, a regional Burning Man in North Carolina, LEAF Festival in Asheville, and Charlotte Shout.

Screenshot of Athena, a yellow inflatable alien — Athena the Astronaut: Also an alien from the Planet Claire, Athena is serene, luminous, and deeply wise. Gentle, thoughtful, and quietly playful, Athena often travels with Apollo and joined him at Coracle, LEAF Festival, and Charlotte Shout.

Screenshot of Charleen the Cow — Charleen the Carolina Cow: Cheerful and wise, Charleen is a classy cow, excited to talk about life at the farm, the best kind of hay, and how she likes living in the country.

Screenshot of Betsy's barn which includes Betsy, a pig, and a cow — Betsy’s Barn: The barn is bursting with fun, and Betsy, Pauline the Pig, and Chuck the Cow love to talk about farm animals and life on the farm.

Screenshot of Geary, a robot with a single wheel — Geary at Early Works Museum: A clever robot who knows his way around the Early Works Museum, Geary is ready to help museum visitors find answers to their big science questions or learn about what they can do at the museum that day.

Screenshot of Humphrey, a camel — Humphrey of Cedar Park, TX: Humphrey knows all about how to use water wisely, and he’s excited to help the folks in Cedar Park, Texas, learn about water conservation. Full of interesting tips and facts about water conservation, he can help folks better understand how to help their community and be excited about it, too.

IK is excited to partner with Pentes Studios in bringing Dorne’s delightful creations to life using the latest AI technology. Whether it’s finding the perfect exhibit or diving into fascinating facts, ChatCreatures help guests get the most out of their event or museum visit. Learn more at chatcreatures.com.