In a first for CloudFest, we bent the rules of time and space to bring our audience a fireside chat with Dr. Albert Einstein! With his well-documented dedication to both physics and social issues, this iconic scientist is the perfect fit for the CloudFest 2025 theme of The Human Edge. This complex session was difficult to produce, and we’re sure that the community is wondering, “How did they do that?!” So we spoke with Markus Oeller, Co-Founder and Co-CEO at 1SP Agency, our technology partner in delivering the Albert Einstein CloudFest session.
What was your first thought when we asked you to help us bring Albert Einstein back to life?
I immediately thought, “Absolutely, let’s do it!” It’s definitely not an easy task, but the idea is great from so many angles, and we love a challenge. That’s a good thing, really, because it certainly was a challenge!
What was the hardest part of the process?
I’d say the hardest part was connecting Albert’s model to the AI. You can think of it like a puppet, but instead of physical strings, we have to link the AI to the 3D model. It’s far more complex than it sounds because there are no actual hands controlling it. This connection between artificial intelligence and the digital character is a critical and intricate step, and without that step the whole experience would not work at all.
What part of this project surprised you the most?
The sheer fun of working on it! We knew it would be fun, but it was even MORE fun than we expected! Besides the process itself, Albert Einstein is such an interesting and inspiring person, and he was really fun to “work with”.
What would you do differently next time?
We would want more time to work. Time is always a crucial factor in highly technical projects, but in this case, it’s especially important. Fine-tuning the model and training the AI properly requires a lot of detailed work and patience.
Who would you like to “bring back” for a future CloudFest session? Is there anyone you would consider off-limits?
We’re not really “bringing people back”—it is more that we’re bringing them to life in a new and different way. And that’s exciting for almost any historical figure who had a meaningful impact on their time. As for who I would like to “work with” next, the list is too long!
In the bigger picture, do you see this sort of “digital ghost” as its own mainstream genre of content? Why or why not? What do you think would be its most effective use cases?
Beyond the idea of a digital ghost, we see a growing demand for AI avatars in general. These avatars don’t get tired, they can scale infinitely, and they keep learning every second. There are countless use cases. In our case, it’s about sparking enthusiasm and curiosity, but on a broader level, it’s also about delivering information in a structured and engaging way.
CloudFest is calling you
March 17-20, 2025
