Sberbank has created a digital TV anchor, Elena, which can present news just by using text to generate full-fledged video image and speech with mimics and emotions similar to those of a real person.

The bank’s press center has revealed that the digital anchor is a complex innovation built with both existing technologies and unique developments created in the scope of the project. Mimics simulation is an unconventional task that only a handful of companies have managed to fulfill.

Elena is jointly created by Sberbank Robotics Laboratory and two Russian companies, Speech Technology Center and CGF Innovation. The former secures the speech synthesis based on artificial neural networks and the latter combines AI methods and realistic computer graphic tools for the visual component.



Sberbank’s digital TV anchor is a unique product, which substantially outstrips the existing analogues in the Russian market.

“Nowadays you can’t impress anyone with virtual 3D models, which are actively used in sectors such as cinematography and computer games. Elena is unique because it automates TV anchor’s work entirely: we can digitize the text, written by a journalist, and get the final product – the news story – to present it to the viewers,” said Lev Khasis, First Deputy Chairman of the Executive Board of Sberbank.

The bank plans to use the robot to produce, present and share news stories on Sberbank TV, and create video ads of the products, services and goods offered by the bank as well as the companies in its ecosystem and clients, etc.

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