South Korea is witnessing the rise of virtual humans as AI technology enters the mainstream. Meet Zaein, a prominent virtual human created by Pulse9, an AI company dedicated to bringing the perfect employee to life.
Pulse9 has crafted digital humans for major South Korean conglomerates, including Shinsegae. Market research predicts that the global market for such lifelike AI creations could soar to $527 billion by 2030.
These AI humans have made significant inroads into society, enrolling in universities, interning at major companies, and even appearing on live television to drive product sellouts, ranging from food to luxury handbags.
However, Pulse9 is far from resting on its laurels. The company’s CEO, Park Ji-eun, expressed their ongoing efforts to expand the utility of AI humans, stating that they are “working on developing the technology to broaden AI human use.” She emphasized that virtual humans are capable of performing many tasks traditionally done by real people, although human involvement is still required at the current AI technology level.
The initial demand for AI humans in South Korea was driven by the K-pop industry, which sought virtual idols capable of working tirelessly without the risk of scandals. Now, Pulse9 is on a mission to demonstrate that these virtual humans can coexist with humans as colleagues and friends.
Zaein, one of these virtual humans, boasts a face created through deep learning analysis of K-pop stars’ faces from the past two decades. Her lifelike appearance is achieved by overlaying a deepfake on a human actor. What sets her apart is the collaboration with over 10 human actors, each possessing diverse talents such as singing, dancing, acting, and reporting, collectively bringing Zaein to life.
One actor, preparing to deliver a report as Zaein on a live morning news program, expressed their enthusiasm for the role, highlighting the opportunity for people to experience the challenges and aspirations of becoming a celebrity.
To protect the identities of human actors, Pulse9 maintains strict confidentiality measures, ensuring that their real faces are never revealed. This anonymity allows actors to explore roles they might not have the chance to pursue in real life, from acting as different genders to portraying foreigners.
Park acknowledged that creating artificial humans will continue to require real people until a more advanced AI can handle all aspects independently. While concerns about AI’s potential dangers and the need for regulation have arisen globally, Park remains optimistic. Her company is focused on developing virtual idols, influencers, and sales agents to assist South Korean conglomerates, grappling with recruitment challenges in a low-birthrate country.
