Funny Face Spy, Featuring AiDi’s Facial Recognition, Wins Tech Direction Award

Funny Face Spy is a variety show where participants use their facial muscles to outsmart facial recognition AI and escape virtual entrapment. The show features Nippon TV’s viztrick AiDi as its facial recognition system, and it was honored with the Silver Award in the AI category at the Tech Direction Awards.

Tech Direction Awards recognize outstanding projects that utilize digital technology, specifically those with exceptional technical planning and design that bring creative ideas to life.

This marks the first-ever win for Nippon TV.

For more details about the Tech Direction Awards, click here.(Japanese Only)

AiDi’s Facial Recognition Feature Adapted for a Variety Show for the First Time

For the production of Funny Face Spy, we customized AiDi’s facial recognition feature for variety show use by repurposing its original function. In this program, we successfully visualized—in real time using CG—how much a face deviates from its original appearance by quantifying the difference through facial recognition.

For more details about the program, click here.👉

Further, AiDi does not require an internet connection and can operate locally on a single PC, making it ideal for locations where internet access is difficult to secure. This offers several advantages: it reduces costs and eliminates the extra work of setting up internet connectivity on-site, while also mitigating the risk of inaccessibility due to connection issues.

The Funny Face Spy project—a new program powered by AI and built around the concept of “outsmarting facial recognition AI to escape”—presented a significant challenge. However, by leveraging our accumulated expertise in AI specialized for broadcasting and conducting repeated preliminary tests, we were able to resolve issues swiftly.

System Design Tailored to On-Site Production Needs Receives High Praise

As systems have grown increasingly complex in recent years, the Tech Direction Awards were established to highlight the importance of technical direction. At the award ceremony, attendees included not only professionals from the broadcasting and video industries, but also individuals from various fields that create products and experiences where technology and creativity intersect.

The Funny Face Spy project was awarded the Silver Prize in the AI category, which recognizes excellence in digital content direction utilizing AI.

AiDi’s intuitive interface, which allows not only technicians but also creators to operate it with ease, greatly streamlined the production workflow. As a result, the program was executed smoothly, with zero issues even during on-location filming.

AiDi’s system design—developed with a deep understanding of on-site requirements and optimized for stable, low-trouble operation—received high acclaim, ultimately leading to the award recognition.

At the Nippon TV AiDi team, we remain committed to delivering new forms of visual
expression and innovative technical solutions.

Please feel free to contact us.