The current application scenarios of virtual digital humans are actually prepared for the metaverse, not just for the mobile internet.
Written by: Far
The "single society" is a global phenomenon.
According to a data report released by iiMedia Consulting in 2021, since 2019, the proportion of single populations in major countries around the world has exceeded 20%, with Sweden's single population ratio reaching as high as 51%. China's single population was 240 million (in 2018), close to the total population of the United States. The Japan National Institute of Population and Social Security Research estimated in 2017 that by 2035, the single rate (including unmarried, divorced, and widowed) of all people aged 15 and above in Japan will reach 48%, accounting for about half of the entire Japanese society.
The gradually increasing data on the single population worldwide indicates a huge demand for emotional companionship among this large group of singles.
The movie "Her" presents the emotions between real people and "virtual humans" that exist in voice form.
Emotional Needs in the Age of Singles
Artistic works reflect reality. The film "Her" describes a story of mutual affection and love between a man in real life and a woman who exists as a "voice personality." In a bustling big city, a single man encounters this "virtual woman" who exists in voice form. She provides him with much comfort and accompanies him through many important life journeys, making him feel less lonely in the tide of the crowd (the film implicitly raises the dilemma of what the difference is between loving a virtual person and loving a real person).
The first episode of the documentary "Before Tomorrow," titled "Robot Companions," presents the important role that intelligent robots play for those in need. "They" help men who are emotionally hurt, have intimacy issues, or simply feel more comfortable being with intelligent robots, and the men see "her" as their other half, gaining companionship and comfort from "her," which they believe is the love they need.
This is the significance of virtual humans (including intelligent robots) for single individuals; it helps them achieve a good psychological experience and, in a sense, plays an indispensable role.
In the metaverse, the scenarios of the current real world will inevitably exist as well. The large single population at that time will likely need the emotional companionship "function" brought by virtual digital humans.
Increasingly Understanding Your "Other Half"
This trend is rapidly developing, manifested in the fast growth of the market industry and the gradual intelligence evolution of virtual humans themselves.
Rapid Development of the Market and Industry
According to data from the Head Leopard Research Institute, the current market size of virtual digital humans has exceeded 200 billion yuan. Quantum Bit Think Tank predicts that by 2030, the overall market size of virtual digital humans in China will reach 270 billion yuan, meaning that an average of one virtual human is "born" every day globally. Additionally, Research And Markets estimates that by 2028, the global virtual event market size will reach 50.476 billion USD (approximately 3270.744 billion yuan). Importantly, identity-based virtual humans will dominate future developments.
What are identity-based virtual digital humans? They are a different type from functional service-oriented virtual digital humans—possessing unique personalities and distinct identities, with glamorous appearances and boundless energy, currently existing in the entertainment, social, and brand fields in a relatively basic form as virtual idols.
The current application scenarios of virtual digital humans are actually prepared for the metaverse, not just for the mobile internet. They will provide more and improved services in the metaverse's extensive application scenarios, such as companionship, chatting, emotional comfort, and even forming intimate relationships, just like the scenes presented in the movie "Her."
Gradually Evolving Intelligence
The first domestic emotional companionship virtual humans (two in total) were officially launched by Baidu Input Method on August 17, 2022. One is a 22-year-old sunny, handsome, and considerate gentle boy named Lin Kaikai, and the other is a 27-year-old emotional listener, a sweet and cool girl named Ye Youyou.
It is reported that the two virtual humans possess near-human-level multi-turn fluent dialogue capabilities. They will provide 24-hour online companionship, anthropomorphic chatting, emotional healing, and other services for over 600 million users through the AI KanKan feature of Baidu Input Method, along with exclusive wake-up and sleep assistance experiences, and offer users emotional needs such as chatting anytime and sharing thoughts.
Based on the Wenxin PLATO dialogue large model, Baidu Input Method has also upgraded Lin Kaikai and Ye Youyou with customized capabilities such as immersive companionship, long-term memory, and deep topics, meaning that as the frequency of chat interactions increases, they will become more understanding of you, resembling a close friend who is always by your side in the real world, ready to talk about anything.
In the age of singles, who is using it? According to reports, Baidu Input Method currently has over 600 million monthly active users. During the testing period, it was recorded that each person chatted more than 50 times daily with AI KanKan, and over 86% of users publicly praised the dialogue content.
The Significance of Virtual Humans in the Metaverse Era
The 600 million monthly active users and the daily chat frequency per person indicate a huge demand for emotional companionship. If the successful realization of the metaverse means that a vast number of global users can enter the metaverse anytime and anywhere, beyond engaging in functional activities like gaming, entertainment, and asset trading, they will also need emotional and companionship support similar to that in the real world during their leisure time.
According to market research firm Gartner, it is predicted that by 2026, 25% of people globally will spend at least one hour daily working, shopping, educating, socializing, or entertaining in the virtual world. When in the real world, people need to raise cats, dogs, or rely on virtual idols for companionship and emotional comfort, in the metaverse, as the time spent increases, people will similarly need emotional companionship virtual humans, akin to understanding cats, dogs, or virtual idols, with the latter evolving more towards real humans.
In the movie "Artificial Intelligence," the AI boy meets the emotional needs of families who have lost their only child.
Facing this prospect, in the future metaverse, virtual humans seem poised to ignite a different spark.
If humans are the subjects of the real universe, then virtual digital humans are the subjects of the metaverse.
When we find ourselves in the metaverse era, we will inevitably find it easier to obtain emotional companionship and warm care from virtual humans (which will become increasingly intelligent in the future). On one hand, it will bring positive effects to those in need, such as providing support for families who have lost their only child, empty nesters, or those needing emotional companionship. On the other hand, whether it has a positive and constructive impact on interpersonal relationships and intimate relationships in real society is a question worth contemplating.
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