AVATAR Virtual Agent On Arizona Checkpoint Will Be Your Robocop

Automated Virtual Agent for Truth Assessments in Real-Time or AVATAR for short is a system designed by  Researchers at the University of Arizona, Tucson and is tested as a digital border agent by US Department of Homeland Security. AVATAR is a multilingual (English, Spanish and Russian), black haired virtual agent dressed in white shirt and black tie; and is responsible for interrogating all those who wish to cross the border. The technology neither check correctness of the answer nor is it a lie detecting machine, instead it is developed to detect abnormalities in the way the person replies (for instance, pausing while answering or change in voice tone). In case of confrontation with a suspected person, the device indicates authorities of something being fishy.

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To reach the AVATAR checkpoint (which is actually a small kiosk), applicants must clear a previous stage which includes checking identity documents and criminal records. For a test drive, the virtual agent is placed at Arizona checkpoint and if successful it will reach the entire border area of the country.

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