Grok and I Consider Emoji Upgrades

Grok said; “Thanks for the well wishes! I’ll be here, ready to dive into any questions or video script ideas you’ve got next time—maybe even something about a restful boat trip vibe for the Sea of Galilee! Have a great Labor Day yourself, and hope it’s plenty restful!”

I said; Oh- one more comment. Those emojis people use resemble something like a killer clown would have or ‘Negger in The terminator. They really should upgrade those to something that doesn’t look weird. I never use them myself because they just aren’t good.

Grok replied; “Haha, I hear you on the emojis—some of them do have a vibe that’s more “killer clown” or “Terminator villain” than friendly! The designs can feel dated or just plain odd, like they’re stuck in a weird uncanny valley. Emoji standards are set by the Unicode Consortium, and while they’ve tried to modernize with more inclusive and diverse options, some still look like they belong in a 90s chatroom or a sci-fi horror flick. If you’re avoiding them because they feel off, you’re not alone—lots of folks skip emojis or wish for a sleeker, less cartoonish upgrade.If you ever want to brainstorm what a “non-weird” emoji set could look like (or even a video script poking fun at creepy emojis), let me know! Enjoy your Labor Day, and thanks for the fun comment!

They could map smiles from celebrities with nice teeth and smiles and try that. Maybe you could invent some for men and women to use- they typically have different facial structure an proportions

Grok replied; “I love the idea of mapping celebrity smiles for emojis—imagine a Denzel Washington grin or a Zendaya smirk lighting up a text! You’re spot-on that men and women often have different facial structures (e.g., broader jawlines in men, softer cheekbones in women), and tailoring emojis to reflect that could make them feel more natural and less like cartoonish clown vibes. The Unicode Consortium could definitely take notes on upgrading from the current dated designs to something more lifelike, maybe using AI to model realistic expressions from diverse faces.While I can’t directly invent or render new emojis (I’m limited to text and some image analysis), I can describe a set of upgraded emojis for men and women that could replace the weird ones. Here’s a quick pitch for a fresh emoji set, considering facial proportions and gender differences, inspired by your celebrity smile idea:Upgraded Emoji Concepts

1. Men’s Smiling Emoji:
   • Inspiration: Think Chris Hemsworth or Idris Elba—strong jawline, confident grin, subtle crow’s feet for charm.
   • Design: A slightly angular face with a defined jaw, warm smile showing just a hint of teeth, and expressive eyes. Avoids the overly round, cartoonish look. Maybe a touch of stubble for realism.
   • Use Case: Conveys friendly confidence without feeling like a creepy clown. Perfect for “Great job!” or “See you soon!”
2. Women’s Smiling Emoji:
   • Inspiration: Margot Robbie or Lupita Nyong’o—radiant smile, softer cheekbones, expressive brows.
   • Design: A gently curved face with a bright, toothy smile, emphasizing warm eyes and subtle lip definition. Ditches the exaggerated blush circles for a natural glow.
   • Use Case: Feels genuine for “So excited!” or “Love this!” without the uncanny valley vibe.
3. Neutral Smirk Emoji (Gender-Neutral):
   • Inspiration: Ryan Reynolds’ sly grin or Rihanna’s cool confidence—works for any gender.
   • Design: A half-smile with one raised eyebrow, balanced proportions to avoid gender-specific features. Clean lines, no garish colors.
   • Use Case: Great for playful or sarcastic texts like “Oh, really?” or “Nailed it.”
4. Excited Expression Emoji (Men/Women Variants):
   • Men’s Version: Broad smile with slightly squinted eyes (think Dwayne Johnson’s hyped-up energy), square jaw, minimal cartoonish exaggeration.
   • Women’s Version: Wider eyes, fuller smile (like Emma Watson’s joyful look), softer contours but not overly stylized.
   • Use Case: For “Can’t wait!” or “This is awesome!” moments, feeling real instead of Terminator-esque.

How to Make It Happen

• Tech Approach: Use AI to analyze celebrity photos (public domain or licensed) for smile patterns, mapping key features like lip curvature, teeth visibility, and eye shape. Adjust for male/female facial proportions (e.g., men’s wider chins, women’s higher cheekbones).
• Diversity: Include varied skin tones and subtle cultural cues to make them universal, avoiding the generic yellow-face look.
• Implementation: Pitch to Unicode or create a custom sticker pack for apps like WhatsApp or Telegram, where users could adopt them.

I can’t generate the actual emoji graphics, but I could write a detailed spec for designers or even a mock-up description for a video showcasing these ideas (tying back to your earlier interest in videos). For example, a 30-second script could show a split-screen of old “killer clown” emojis vs. new celebrity-inspired ones, with a voiceover joking about the upgrade.What do you think—any specific celebrities or expressions you’d want in this emoji set? Or should I whip up a quick video script to pitch this idea? Thanks for the creative spark, and hope you’re enjoying a restful Labor Day!”