NANA: The Moonshine Studio AI Receptionist, Crafted with MSI Desktop and NVIDIA Studio Brilliance
Desktops
Recently, MSI collaborated with Moonshine Studio, and under the leadership of Eric Chiang, the team created an AI Receptionist. Let's explore how they utilized the powerful features of MSI Trident X2 and NVIDIA Studio to bring NANA to life.
Reposted from NVIDIA
The creative team at Moonshine Studio — an artist-focused visual effects (VFX) studio specializing in animation and motion design — was tasked to solve a problem.
At their Taiwan office, receptionists were constantly engaged in meeting and greeting guests, preventing them from completing other important administrative work. To make matters worse, the automated kiosk greeting system wasn’t working as expected.
Senior Moonshine Studio 3D artist and this week’s In the NVIDIA Studio creator Eric Chiang stepped up to the challenge. He created a realistic, interactive 3D model that would serve as the foundation of a new AI-powered virtual assistant — NANA. The avatar can welcome guests and provide basic company info, easing the strain on the receptionist team.
Chiang built NANA using GPU-accelerated features in his favorite creative apps — powered by his NVIDIA Studio-badged MSI MEG Trident X2 PC, which is equipped with a GeForce RTX 4090 graphics card.
His creative workflow was enhanced by the Tensor Cores in his GPU, which supercharged AI-specific tasks — saving him time and elevating the quality of his work. RTX and AI also improve performance in gaming, boost productivity and more.
These advanced features are supported by NVIDIA Studio Drivers, — free for RTX GPU owners — which add performance and reliability. The December Studio Driver provides support for the Reallusion iClone AccuFACE plugin, GPU audio enhancements, AV1 in HandBrake and more — and is now ready for download.
An AI on the Future
Chiang began in Blender, sculpting intricate 3D models that served as the building blocks for NANA. Blender Cycles’ RTX-accelerated OptiX ray tracing in the viewport unlocked interactive, photorealistic modeling.
He then used the Marvelous Designer software for making, editing and reusing 3D clothes to create realistic clothing for NANA. This streamlined the design and simulation process, ensuring that the avatar is not only structurally sound but impeccably dressed.
NANA’s casual day outfit.
Chiang deployed Quixel Mixer and Adobe Substance 3D Painter for shading, adding depth, texture and realism to the 3D models.
Chiang deployed Quixel Mixer and Adobe Substance 3D Painter for shading, adding depth, texture and realism to the 3D models.
He then used the Blender plug-in AccuRIG to efficiently create precise, adaptable character rigs.
Chiang put everything together in Unreal Engine, where he seamlessly integrated 3D objects into the scene, leveraging real-time rendering to create visually stunning results.
NVIDIA DLSS further increased viewport interactivity by using AI to upscale frames rendered at lower resolution while still retaining high-fidelity detail. All of this was powered by his GeForce RTX 4090 GPU.
The NVIDIA Studio-badged MSI MEG Trident X2 PC, equipped with a GeForce RTX 4090 graphics card.
Chiang is excited about what AI can do for creators and society at large.
“What was once science fiction is now becoming reality, opening the door to a whole new stage of scientific and technological development,” he said. “We are fortunate to participate in and witness this new stage.”
Moonshine Studio digital 3D artist Eric Chiang.
Visit Moonshine Studio and say hello to NANA.
Visit Moonshine Studio and say hello to NANA.
