AppDirect Acquires AI Avatar Firm Soul Machines

AppDirect has acquired Soul Machines, an AI avatar company, to add human-like digital experiences to its business commerce platform. Soul Machines' avatars can see, listen, react, remember interactions, and simulate empathy, enabling automation of face-to-face tasks such as customer support, employee help desks, training, and digital commerce. AppDirect CEO Nicolas Desmarais said the move helps businesses put AI to work in more engaging ways. The avatars will also be integrated into Devs.ai, AppDirect's enterprise app-building platform for developers.