Santa, barred from malls and chimneys, enters homes via interactive video

A file photo of a man dressed as Santa Claus at a mall in Pennsylvania. Santa is doing virtual visits this year via an interactive website where Father Christmas answers questions as if in person. — The Patriot-News via AP

Santa cannot sit with kids in shopping malls this year, but they can still tell him their Christmas wishlist in a video chat at home.

Technology company Storyfile has come up with an artificial intelligence alternative to the holiday tradition: an interactive website where Father Christmas answers questions as if in person.