Lai Lin Thomala
Research expert covering Greater China
Virtual humans, also known as digital humans or virtual beings, equipped with cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) to mimic human-like qualities, have found their stride in China. From entertainment, marketing, and education to customer service, these digital personas are making waves in various industries in the country. The emerging market is estimated to be worth over 36 billion yuan in 2023 and is projected to triple in size within the next three years.
On the other hand, function-based or task-oriented virtual humans are trained to execute specific tasks. The focus is efficient and effective functionality rather than complex personalities and visual realism. With the ability to understand user queries, provide relevant information, and assist in completing tasks, they are commonly used in education and finance industries as digital assistants and customer service avatars. Brand ambassador Gong Jiuyu and news anchor Xiao C were some of the most prominent task-oriented characters in China.
What are the main types of virtual humans?
China’s virtual human beings can be divided into two categories: character-based and function-based, with the former driving the industry. While character-based digital avatars prioritize human-like interactions and storytelling, function-based virtual entities specialize in task completion and functionality.Character versus function
Character-oriented digital persons are meticulously crafted with storytelling elements to exhibit distinct personalities, making them ideal for providing immersive and engaging user experiences. Currently, they are prevalent on social media, entertainment, and e-commerce platforms, where they can serve as music artists, influencers, and live streamers. Some of China’s notable figures in the field were anime-based singer Luo Tianyi, historical fantasy influencer Tianyu, and hyper-realistic trend leader AYAYI.On the other hand, function-based or task-oriented virtual humans are trained to execute specific tasks. The focus is efficient and effective functionality rather than complex personalities and visual realism. With the ability to understand user queries, provide relevant information, and assist in completing tasks, they are commonly used in education and finance industries as digital assistants and customer service avatars. Brand ambassador Gong Jiuyu and news anchor Xiao C were some of the most prominent task-oriented characters in China.
