Preliminary Exploration of Intelligent Virtual Avatars in the Virtual Influencer Industry
Chang Wen Ying · 2024
The virtual avatar and Vtuber (virtual YouTube broadcaster) industries are fast-evolving sectors within today's entertainment and social media landscape. These virtual avatars are generated by software and enhanced with animation and motion capture technologies to provide interactive experiences for users. The market for virtual avatars encompasses content production and technological development, representing a significant spectrum of the digital content industry today. In the era of AI-generated content (AIGC), intelligent virtual avatars are becoming a pivotal technology in the virtual influencer domain. This study aims to preliminarily explore the applications of intelligent virtual avatars in the virtual influencer industry, particularly focusing on the positive and negative impacts after integrating artificial intelligence functionalities. Questions include whether the introduction of intelligent virtual avatars significantly enhances content creation efficiency and diversity, or whether, through AI technologies, virtual influencers can achieve more real-time interactions and more closely mimic human response patterns, thus enhancing audience immersion and loyalty. The introduction of AI technology is notably evident in real-time interactions with audiences. Moreover, intelligent virtual avatars can produce content continuously, unrestricted by physical or emotional states, offering a production advantage. However, the use of related technologies, including speech synthesis, also initiates a series of negative impacts, posing a threat to the job security of human creators. As virtual avatars can produce content more cost-effectively and efficiently, human creators might find their skills and experiences less rare, potentially affecting their career prospects and earnings. Additionally, intelligent virtual avatars may foster the proliferation of lower-quality content, as they can quickly produce large amounts of material without deep creativity or cultural sensitivity, potentially leading to content homogenization, reducing cultural diversity and the depth of creativity. This study employs a qualitative approach, interviewing two well-known companies in Taiwan that utilize AIGC technology for virtual influencers or virtual avatars. The questions cover three aspects: 1. Whether AI applications in virtual avatars can enhance the industry's business models, 2. Whether AI can accelerate the existing digital content production process, 3. Whether the inclusion of AI reduces company manpower. The introduction of intelligent virtual avatars has a significant impact on the virtual influencer industry, bringing both positive effects in promoting industry development and innovation, and potential negative impacts on the creative labor market. This study attempts to find a balance between these opportunities and challenges needed for industry development.