Show HN: LemonSlice – Upgrade your voice agents to real-time video • Hacker News Board

Questions what are the main differences between you and anam.ai ? They also do real time lip sync plus looks like they are cheaper. Do you optimise for price or quality? And do you focus on lipsync or full movement etc?

Re: Show HN: LemonSlice – Upgrade your voice agents to real-time video

#134

Post by zestyping » Thu, Feb 05, 2026, 9:04 PM UTC

lcolucci wrote: post #130

zestyping wrote: post #129

When you generate real-time video of realistic-looking talking characters, the definition of success is fooling people into believing they are talking to a real person when they aren't. If you pursue this, your explicit goal is deception, and it's a massively harmful kind of deception. I don't see how you can claim to be operating ethically here if that's your goal.

Do you think the same about text that is indistinguishable from human-written text (LLM chatbots)? Or voice that is indistinguishable from a human talking? Illegal things, like fraud and impersonation, are illegal. There's a difference between the tool and the actions people do with the tool. There are tons of useful applications of interactive avatars - from corporate training to kids education to language learning…

I don't think the same of them because they are not the same thing. Can you not see that the potential for harm is far greater? You can't simply ignore the potential uses of the technology you create. You have the choice to design your technology so it retains its usefulness while limiting the harm; have you given any time to thinking about how you could do that?

The alien is a diversion from the concern; I'm talking about realistic human avatars. Let's stay focused on that.

Let me suggest a worthwhile exercise. Just take ten minutes. What are some of the ways that realistic human avatars would make deception more effective or more scalable than previously possible?

Come up with three scenarios, and let's talk about them, honestly and thoughtfully.

Re: Show HN: LemonSlice – Upgrade your voice agents to real-time video

#135

Post by lcolucci » Mon, Feb 09, 2026, 5:38 AM UTC

zestyping wrote: post #128

echelon wrote: post #105

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The dichotomy of AI haters and AI dreamers is wild. OP, I think this is the coolest thing ever. Keep going. Naysayers have some points, but nearly every major disruptive technology has had downsides that have been abused. (Cars can be used for armed robbery. Steak knives can be used to murder people. Computers can be used for hacking.) The upsides of tech typically far outweigh the downsides. If a tech is all downsid…

The primary purpose of generating real-time video of realistic-looking talking people is deception. The explicit goal is to make people believe that they're talking to a real person when they aren't. It's on you to identify the "immense" benefits that outweigh that explicit goal. What are they?

I don't think that's the primary purpose of realistic interactive avatars, any more than deception is the purpose of CGI. Deception requires intent to mislead — if users know they're talking to an avatar, it's not deception no matter how realistic. Just as moviegoers aren't "deceived" by CGI. It's an experience they opt into.

As for benefits: language learning with avatars, scalable corporate training, accessible education for kids, personalized coaching, and certainly entertainment, which has real value too.