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Soul App’s AI Portrait Animation Study Gains CVPR 2025 Acceptance

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SHANGHAI, March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Soul App, a trailblazer in the “Social + AI” domain, has once again demonstrated its commitment to harnessing the power of artificial intelligence in social networking. The company’s latest achievement is the acceptance of its research paper on real-time, AI-driven portrait animation at the 2025 Conference on Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition (CVPR), one of the most esteemed conferences in the fields of AI and computer vision.

CVPR is renowned for attracting top-tier research from both industry leaders and top academic institutions worldwide. This year, the conference received a staggering 13,008 submissions, of which only 2,878 were accepted, resulting in an acceptance rate of just 22.1%. This underscores the rigorous selection process and the intense competition in the field. Thus, the recognition from CVPR is a significant milestone for Soul, adding to its growing list of accolades, including the 2024 ACM International Conference on Multimedia (ACM MM) and the top position at the Multimodal Emotion Recognition Challenge (MER24).

The accepted paper, titled “Teller: Real-Time Streaming Audio-Driven Portrait Animation with Autoregressive Motion Generation,” presents a novel autoregressive framework designed to enhance the efficiency of generating “talking-head” animations. This research aims to meet the growing demand for AI models that can deliver human-like interactions in real time.

What sets the “Teller” framework apart is its unique balance between performance and efficiency. Soul’s model utilizes an autoregressive motion generation framework that maintains optimal efficiency without sacrificing the fluidity and authenticity of natural facial and body movements. The paper highlights two key components of this technology:

Facial Motion Latent Generation (FMLG): By leveraging large-scale training data, FMLG enhances the synchronization between audio and visual cues, resulting in more fluid and natural facial expressions in response to speech inputs.

Efficient Temporal Module (ETM): Using a diffusion-based approach, the model accurately captures body dynamics, adding realism to the movements of facial and body muscles, as well as accessories.

During tests, Soul’s engineers found that this dual-module system enables AI-generated avatars to exhibit expressions and gestures that feel human in real time. This level of realism significantly enhances user experience in virtual interactions.

Since its inception in 2016, Soul has consistently invested in technological resources to gain an AI-driven edge in social networking. The company’s journey began with the self-developed Lingxi Engine, which facilitated user connections based on mutual interests. This was followed by rapid advancements in speech and text-based interactions, as well as 3D virtual human modeling. By 2020, Soul was already leveraging AI-generated content (AIGC) and focusing on intelligent dialogue systems and voice synthesis.

The launch of Soul’s proprietary AI model, Soul X, in 2023 marked a major leap forward. This homegrown model introduced features such as multilingual voice calls, speech synthesis, and AI-generated music to the platform. The recent breakthrough with the “Teller” framework is another step toward Soul’s goal of integrating speech, vision, and natural language processing (NLP) to create AI-powered digital entities that can interact seamlessly with users in real time. The ultimate aim is to provide not just functional but also emotionally fulfilling companionship.

Soul believes that artificial intelligence should go beyond merely facilitating conversations. The full potential of the technology should be utilized to create experiences that are emotionally enriching for users.

 

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/soul-apps-ai-portrait-animation-study-gains-cvpr-2025-acceptance-302412976.html

SOURCE Soul App

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LEAP Group Relaunches HumanView, a Growth Intelligence System Built to Explain Why Customers Behave the Way They Do

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Reimagined from the ground up, HumanView pairs statistical modeling with expert analysts to turn millions of real-world customer signals into business decisions

LOUISVILLE, Ky., Oct. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — LEAP Group today announced the relaunch of HumanView, its growth intelligence service. The new version has been rebuilt from the ground up and now has a dedicated home at leapgroupnetwork.com/humanview.

HumanView analyzes what customers say and do across social platforms, e-commerce sites, review platforms, search behavior and user-generated content, including signals from Reddit, TikTok, YouTube, Meta, Amazon and Walmart+ that general AI tools cannot always access. Because the data reflects unprompted, real-world behavior, it avoids the response bias built into surveys and focus groups.

The service works in three layers. HumanView captures signals at scale, decodes millions of records through validated statistical models such as regression, correlation and clustering, and then relies on experienced analysts to interpret the patterns. Clients receive clear, human-validated insights instead of another dashboard.

“Machines find the patterns. Humans find the point,” said Alan Gilleo, CEO at LEAP Group. “The first version of HumanView showed us how much customers reveal when nobody is asking them questions. This version is built to explain why they act the way they do, and to put those answers in front of everyone making decisions, from product to service to marketing.”

HumanView focuses on three areas:

Growth Intelligence: customer motivations and how people perceive a brand and its competitors

Market and Category Intelligence: product pain points, service friction, unmet needs and competitive gaps

Audience Intelligence: new segments, positioning opportunities and gaps in the market

Every model is designed and validated by data scientists and benchmarked before it informs a recommendation.

To learn more about HumanView, visit leapgroupnetwork.com/humanview.

About LEAP Group
LEAP Group is a boutique marketing agency holding company with offices in Louisville, Indianapolis, Cincinnati and Chicago. Guided by the belief that brands should “Market Less. Matter More.,” LEAP gives clients access to specialized experts across its entire network. Learn more at leapgroupnetwork.com.

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SOURCE LEAP Group

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STEPHEN A. SMITH ADDRESSES WHITE HOUSE DINNER ATTENDANCE, REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO HBCUs AND PROTECTING CORPORATE INVESTMENT IN BLACK EDUCATION

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NEW YORK, Oct. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Stephen A. Smith, media mogul, New York Times bestselling author, and proud 1991 graduate of Winston-Salem State University, is addressing the public discussion surrounding his decision to attend a White House dinner with President Donald Trump, emphasizing his commitment to the long-term financial stability of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

For Smith, the decision was rooted in a commitment to institutions that have educated generations of Black leaders, professionals, entrepreneurs, and public servants.

“I will always advocate for HBCUs and the students whose futures depend on them,” Smith said. “My reason for attending the White House dinner was to discuss the challenges these institutions face in securing long-term funding and to make the case that corporate America must continue to invest in them.”

Smith acknowledged federal support through the FUTURE Act while expressing concern that political tensions surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) could discourage private companies from supporting HBCUs. He maintains that these institutions deserve sustained corporate partnerships, philanthropic contributions, and public investment.

“If we truly believe in free-market capitalism, businesses should be able to support educational institutions and charitable causes without fear of criticism or repercussions,” Smith said. “HBCUs have made extraordinary contributions to this country. They deserve sustained public and private investment.”

Ashley Christopher, Esq., Founder and CEO of the HBCU Week Foundation, recognized Smith’s advocacy and decision to engage with the administration.

“Stephen A. Smith has been a powerful advocate for HBCUs, using his platform and influence to shine a national spotlight on our institutions,” expressed Christopher, “His continued support of HBCU Week helps advance our mission of connecting students with life-changing educational opportunities, and we are proud to have him as our ambassador.”

Since Smith became an HBCU Week Ambassador in 2019, the initiative has facilitated more than 15,000 on-the-spot college acceptances and raised and awarded more than $150 million in scholarships, according to the HBCU Week Foundation.

As public discussion continues, Smith is emphasizing the importance of ensuring HBCUs have the resources and partnerships needed to educate future generations and expand opportunities for students.

CLICK HERE to watch Smith’s full response to his White House visit.

MEDIA CONTACT:

media@mrsasinc.com

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SOURCE Straight Shooter Media

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Advantex Announces Completion of Financing and Extension of Maturity Date of Previously Issued Debentures

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TORONTO, Oct. 23, 2026 /CNW/ — Advantex Marketing International Inc. (CSE: ADX) (“Advantex”), a leader in the merchant cash advance and loyalty marketing products for merchants, today announced the completion of a $250,000 secured debt financing. Advantex issued a $250,000 non-convertible debenture which bears an interest rate at 12% per annum and matures December 15, 2027. The proceeds raised from this issuance of the Debenture will be used for working capital purposes.

Advantex has also extended the maturity of its existing $700,000 in 12% secured debentures from October 10, 2026 to December 15, 2027.

About Advantex Marketing International Inc.

Advantex provides working capital to merchants. Advantex also provides specialized marketing programs that enable members of Aeroplan to earn Aeroplan points at participating merchants.

Advantex shares trade on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the symbol ADX. For more information go to Advantex’s profile on www.sedar.com

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable securities laws relating to the future business and operations of Advantex. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by these statements. The business and operations of Advantex described herein is dependent on a number of factors and is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual results to differ material include, but are not limited to, changes in Advantex’s economic and competitive conditions including but not limited to the industry sectors in which Advantex operates.

The statements in this news release are made of the date of this release. Forward-looking statements are made based on management’s beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date the statements are made and Advantex undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as required by applicable law.

SOURCE Advantex Marketing International Inc.

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