Looks aren’t everything, but first impressions count. This age-old saying applies to AI companions as much as it does to humans. 

As the AI companionship scene continues to grow rapidly, the technologies offering the most detailed character customization options are far more likely to succeed. 

How are Genies’ Looks Created? 

Genies’ users have full creative control when designing their companion. You can draw inspiration from any person, item, or concept when developing your Genie’s appearance. 

Here at Genies HQ, our philosophy on AI companion appearances is quite simple: Genies can be anyone or anything that comes to your imagination. Your companion should serve as the ultimate form of self-expression. 

We’re not just talking about users choosing between a few character models and outfit options — we’re talking about leveraging Looks Technology such as AI-Generated Content capabilities (AIGC) and User-Generated Content (UGC) Pipeline technology to create truly unique digital companions. 

What does Genies’ Looks Technology Do?

By harnessing Genies’ Looks Technology, users can create human or fantastical characters, equip them with customized pieces of fashion, accessories, or decor, and then gift said items to friends with ease. 

AI-Generated Content Capabilities (AIGC) 

When creating the base model for your character with Genies’ AIGC, users can choose between text prompts and photo uploads. 

You can submit text prompts or upload pictures of people or fantastical avatars, such as mascots or other fictional characters, at the beginning of the companion creation process. Genies will convert text prompts into images and then into 3D assets before generating game-ready avatars. Image uploads will immediately be converted into 3D assets before they become avatars that match the likeness of your image’s subject.

You may be asking yourself — what’s a game-ready wearable? Don’t worry, we will cover that shortly! 

You can use AIGC to generate clothing items for your character in one of two ways: You can use pre-set prompts to generate basic items, and then iterate upon those prompts to create tailored assets. Or, a more fun alternative would be to converse with your AI companion directly to generate them. 

That’s right, you can simply chat with your companion to generate assets that are tailored to your interests, hobbies, and unique sense of style. Both methods (the pre-set prompts and directly chatting with your Genie) can be used to customize furniture and decor for your Genie's personal space as well. 

Modular Character System

Genies’ Modular Character System gives you the power to create and edit any wearable assets on your avatar. 

These abilities apply to a wide range of clothing items, but it’s not limited to garments alone. After all, how fire can a fit really be without accessories? You can also generate custom footwear, jewelry, hats, bags, handhelds, and more to create a look that is 100% your own style. 

One more thing — your Genie’s custom pieces of swag might look nice on your character, but haven’t you heard the phrase “Sharing is Caring?” The same goes for your furniture. After you’ve had the chance to rock a nice piece in your personal space, you may want to share the love by gifting it to a friend. 

What does Looks Technology Look Like in Action? 

Looks Technology cannot and should not be limited to a single example, but to demonstrate just how creative you can get with your Genies creation, we’ve provided one below ↓

1. Face Value

You were never one to model your character after yourself. Instead, you try to create characters that look like your favorite basketball player. You’ve gotten close in the past, but you haven’t quite hit the nail on the head with previous character editors. 

So you upload a photo of your favorite player from your phone’s camera roll. In a matter of minutes, their eyes, nose, mouth, and signature cornrows are converted into a game-ready asset. 

Remember when we said we’d return to this term? A game-ready asset is interoperable, meaning it can travel from one game experience to the next. 

So what does this mean for your companion? The short answer is that they can be imported from one Party experience to the next, seamlessly. 

2. Dripped Out

Your favorite player is known for their drip, and one of the best ways to ensure you get them in fresh hoops gear is by talking to them about it! Through direct conversation, you’re able to converse with your companion about their colorway preferences, shorts’ length, and jersey number. For the fun of it, you throw in a mini-basketball hoop for their personal space as well. 

No more boring sliders and manual inputs! All of this is done in a natural, back-and-forth discussion with your companion. 

3. Bring out the Bling

Using Genies’ Modular Character System, you can make sure your companion has all of the accessories they need. Once their basketball kicks and headband are equipped, you will truly start to see the resemblance! 

4. Share the Love

Your favorite player is known for their passing ability. They could really share the rock. Your companion should be recognized for a similar kind of generosity! 

When you feel like you want to generate new accessories, you can gift your older items to friends to try out on their companions. The same goes for furniture in their personal spaces — maybe you’ve got a friend who will want to get some shots up on the mini hoop. 

Why are Companions Making Headlines for their Looks? 

The visual component of AI companions is a game-changer in the LLM space. Systems like ChatGPT and Perplexity are incredibly powerful, but to date, these interfaces still feel cold and distant to most users. Many companies have begun rolling out AI companions and other digital characters in an effort to provide users with a smoother vehicle for conversational exchanges. Back in July, Grok released two very different AI companions: a risqué female and a comedic, foul-mouthed red panda. 

Dr. Jamie Banks, an associate professor at the School of Information Studies at Syracuse University, noted in an interview with SciLine how a customizable appearance was one of the core elements comprising an AI companion, saying, “(They) have these personalities that can be customized, both in terms of sort of their personality traits, but also their visual properties.”

We agree with Dr. Banks’ assessment that customizable looks play a critical role, but we also believe great AI companions possess much more than great visuals: click here to learn what other aspects make up the DNA of a great AI companion.