Learning through AI-clones: Enhancing self-perception and presentation performance

This study examines the impact of AI-generated digital clones with self-images (AI-clones) on enhancing perceptions and skills in online presentations. A mixed-design experiment with 44 international students compared self-recording videos (self-recording group) to AI-clone videos (AI-clone group) f...

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Main Authors: Qingxiao Zheng, Zhuoer Chen, Yun Huang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-03-01
Series:Computers in Human Behavior: Artificial Humans
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949882125000015
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author Qingxiao Zheng
Zhuoer Chen
Yun Huang
author_facet Qingxiao Zheng
Zhuoer Chen
Yun Huang
author_sort Qingxiao Zheng
collection DOAJ
description This study examines the impact of AI-generated digital clones with self-images (AI-clones) on enhancing perceptions and skills in online presentations. A mixed-design experiment with 44 international students compared self-recording videos (self-recording group) to AI-clone videos (AI-clone group) for online English presentation practice. AI-clone videos were generated using voice cloning, face swapping, lip-syncing, and body-language simulation, refining the repetition, filler words, and pronunciation of participants' original presentations. The results, viewed through the lens of social comparison theory, showed that AI clones functioned as positive “role models” for encouraging positive social comparisons. Regarding self-perceptions, speech qualities, and self-kindness, the self-recording group showed an increase in pronunciation satisfaction. However, the AI-clone group exhibited greater self-kindness, a wider scope of self-observation, and a meaningful transition from a corrective to an enhancive approach in self-critique. Moreover, machine-rated scores revealed immediate performance gains only within the AI-clone group. Considering individual differences, aligning interventions with participants’ regulatory focus significantly enhanced their learning experience. These findings highlight the theoretical, practical, and ethical implications of AI clones in supporting emotional and cognitive skill development.
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spelling doaj-art-a64f071bd04b405ca46c980e0f2837262025-08-20T02:54:33ZengElsevierComputers in Human Behavior: Artificial Humans2949-88212025-03-01310011710.1016/j.chbah.2025.100117Learning through AI-clones: Enhancing self-perception and presentation performanceQingxiao Zheng0Zhuoer Chen1Yun Huang2Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science (IAD), Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University at Buffalo, SUNY, NY, USA; Corresponding author.HeyGen, 12130 Millennium Dr. Ste 300, Los Angeles, CA, 90094, USASchool of Information Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, 614 E Daniel St, Champaign, IL, 61820, USAThis study examines the impact of AI-generated digital clones with self-images (AI-clones) on enhancing perceptions and skills in online presentations. A mixed-design experiment with 44 international students compared self-recording videos (self-recording group) to AI-clone videos (AI-clone group) for online English presentation practice. AI-clone videos were generated using voice cloning, face swapping, lip-syncing, and body-language simulation, refining the repetition, filler words, and pronunciation of participants' original presentations. The results, viewed through the lens of social comparison theory, showed that AI clones functioned as positive “role models” for encouraging positive social comparisons. Regarding self-perceptions, speech qualities, and self-kindness, the self-recording group showed an increase in pronunciation satisfaction. However, the AI-clone group exhibited greater self-kindness, a wider scope of self-observation, and a meaningful transition from a corrective to an enhancive approach in self-critique. Moreover, machine-rated scores revealed immediate performance gains only within the AI-clone group. Considering individual differences, aligning interventions with participants’ regulatory focus significantly enhanced their learning experience. These findings highlight the theoretical, practical, and ethical implications of AI clones in supporting emotional and cognitive skill development.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949882125000015Social comparison theoryRegulatory-focusAI avatarDeepfakeVoice cloneExperiment
spellingShingle Qingxiao Zheng
Zhuoer Chen
Yun Huang
Learning through AI-clones: Enhancing self-perception and presentation performance
Computers in Human Behavior: Artificial Humans
Social comparison theory
Regulatory-focus
AI avatar
Deepfake
Voice clone
Experiment
title Learning through AI-clones: Enhancing self-perception and presentation performance
title_full Learning through AI-clones: Enhancing self-perception and presentation performance
title_fullStr Learning through AI-clones: Enhancing self-perception and presentation performance
title_full_unstemmed Learning through AI-clones: Enhancing self-perception and presentation performance
title_short Learning through AI-clones: Enhancing self-perception and presentation performance
title_sort learning through ai clones enhancing self perception and presentation performance
topic Social comparison theory
Regulatory-focus
AI avatar
Deepfake
Voice clone
Experiment
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949882125000015
work_keys_str_mv AT qingxiaozheng learningthroughaiclonesenhancingselfperceptionandpresentationperformance
AT zhuoerchen learningthroughaiclonesenhancingselfperceptionandpresentationperformance
AT yunhuang learningthroughaiclonesenhancingselfperceptionandpresentationperformance