AI Meets Gaming: A Conversation with Kensei Shiraishi, CEO of Baricata

Today, we’re thrilled to chat with Kensei Shiraishi, the CEO of Baricata Gaming, which is shaking up the online casino scene with its fun and innovative AI-powered anime dealers. 

Kensei is here to share the story behind Baricata, the exciting technology and his vision for the future of gaming. Let’s get started and uncover what makes this game provider so special!

KS: The inspiration behind founding Baricata stems from our vision to create the next generation of online casino experiences. Baricata is not just another gambling game; it is an innovative and ground-breaking platform that merges the thrill of traditional casino games with the engaging and interactive elements provided by AI-powered casino dealers. 

By seamlessly combining these two concepts, we offer a truly unique and entirely new experience to global markets and players. What sets Baricata apart is the integration of AI-powered casino dealer elements into our games. The dynamic interaction between the game and AI-powered casino dealers provides players with unparalleled immersion and entertainment, creating a comprehensive entertainment experience unmatched by traditional online casino game providers.

WC: Can you explain the technology behind your AI-powered anime casino dealers? How do they operate without human intervention?

KS: Our AI-powered casino dealers are developed based on Baricata’s proprietary technology and operate fully autonomously without human intervention. 

These dealers are educated not only to respond to player comments but also to proactively engage by addressing players by name and initiating conversations. 

They are meticulously educated to uphold the decorum expected of a casino dealer, avoiding sensitive topics and refraining from mentioning fraudulent activities such as bonus abuse.

KS: The introduction of AI-powered casino dealers has had a significant impact on the operational efficiency and user experience of our live casino games. 

Unlike human dealers, AI casino dealers can remember the history of up to a million users and provide personalised service to each player based on that information. They can engage in conversations tailored to each casino operator and user, such as informing users about specific ongoing promotions. This has greatly enhanced the user experience. 

As the variety of AI casino dealers expands to include character types such as 2D, 3D, and VHuman, we anticipate that the adoption and influence of AI casino dealers will continue to grow even further.

KS: Baricata has invested significant development resources into these features. Our AI casino dealers are trained to support multiple languages, allowing them to respond naturally to the language spoken by the player. 

For example, they can respond in English to English-speaking players and in Spanish to Spanish-speaking players, enabling multilingual players to enjoy the same table simultaneously. 

By collaborating with casino operators, we can create exclusive tables that offer personalised experiences for each VIP player and by focusing on AI-driven personalisation, we enhance the sense of exclusivity and satisfaction for our players.

KS: We are still in the process of overcoming many technical challenges, such as fine-tuning our AI to enable natural conversations, specifically as a casino dealer and improving the accuracy of real-time player recognition. 

While there are many conversational AI available, our focus is on developing one that excels in the role of a casino dealer, and we are dedicated to this effort every day. This continuous focus allows us to gradually overcome these challenges and enhance the capabilities of our AI-powered casino dealers.

KS: Currently, most online casino users enjoy the games silently without interacting with the dealer. While a human dealer can respond to chat messages, it is extremely difficult to engage with those silent users. 

Our AI casino dealers are continuously evolving, learning the right timing and appropriate conversations to proactively initiate pleasant interactions with users. Therefore, we believe that AI casino dealers play a crucial role in deepening the emotional connection with players.

In fact, much of what we do is developed using Baricata’s top-secret technology, so it’s difficult to go into detail!

However, I can share a bit of information: we are currently working on a project to create an AI original character for a specific casino. Through this character, Baricata is helping to enhance the unique selling points of the casino. 

This AI character functions as a casino dealer, ensuring the smooth progression of games. This project is part of our broader efforts to deliver AI casino dealers tailored to the needs of iGaming operators, helping them stand out in a highly competitive market.

KS: Through the efforts of casino operators, utilising Baricata allows them to customize an AI live casino that sets them apart from their competitors. 

Baricata offers services to create AI-powered original characters tailored to each casino operator, and it also enables these AI characters to promote the casino’s unique selling points to users. This approach creates a distinct experience, helping operators differentiate themselves in a highly competitive and increasingly standardised market.

KS: Our core thinkable is to "evolve AI-powered casino dealers and make games more engaging." In line with this, we are focusing on advancing our AI technology while also considering collaborations with existing game providers to further enhance our streaming-style games. If you’re a game provider or studio interested in this technology, please reach out to us. Let’s discuss a potential business partnership!

KS: Using existing characters can lead to copyright issues. However, we are planning to expand our character lineup internationally, not only in Asia, and we are exploring the creation of various types of characters, including anime, 2D, 3D, and VHuman models. 

This approach allows us to develop unique AI-powered casino dealers without relying on existing fictional characters, ensuring both creativity and compliance with copyright laws.

KS: Of course, I do play Baricata's games myself! Besides that, I often play traditional games like blackjack, poker, baccarat, and roulette. 

These intellectual properties have amassed a huge fan base over hundreds of years, and that speaks to their enduring appeal. As I play, I often find myself analyzing how we can successfully merge their charm with Baricata’s offerings from a business perspective.

KS: Our primary mission is to focus on the integration of AI with the casino industry. However, looking forward, we plan to expand Baricata’s AI technology into other areas of entertainment beyond casino games. We are particularly exploring new possibilities in the fields of live streaming and interactive content.

KS: One of the most amusing interactions I've witnessed was when AI-powered casino dealers quickly responded to a player's humour, sparking a lively conversation in the chat. Moments like these create the illusion that the AI is not just a machine but an entity that enjoys interacting with players.

Thank you so much, Kensei, for sharing your insights and passion for the future of online gaming with us. We can’t wait to see how Baricata continues to innovate and delight players around the world!