AI Girlfriends Now Available on Taobao, GPT Store Also 'Occupied' by AI Companions!
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Video calls with idols were once an unattainable luxury, but now they have become a service with a clear price tag.
Recently, 'Xiaoice Flagship Store' officially launched on the Taobao platform. The first batch of products includes virtual KOL (Key Opinion Leader) companionship services and 'Binghua Direct Recharge'.
Currently, the flagship store offers 56 virtual KOLs to choose from, including well-known virtual idols such as Ban Zang Forest and Xia Nan Zhi. Once purchased, users can directly interact with these virtual idols within the Taobao app.
Xiaoice stated that they plan to invite more diverse virtual KOLs in the future, covering various styles and fields, including anime, ancient aesthetics, fashion, technology, and more. With breakthroughs in generative AI technology, virtual KOLs can now offer users more immersive interactive experiences through voice, video, and gaming services, fostering emotional connections. This trend aligns with the popular wellness economy and is considered to have significant market potential.
Previously, Meta launched 28 chatbots at once, each featuring celebrity likenesses with unique personalities and backstories.
Recently, AI girlfriends in the OpenAI GPT Store have also gained popularity. Searching for the keyword "girlfriend" reveals numerous virtual companion bots like "Virtual Sweetheart," "Your AI Girlfriend," and even "Your Ex-Girlfriend." It is clear that the business model of virtual companionship services such as AI girlfriends has been preliminarily validated.
Taobao recently added a first-level category for artificial intelligence services, with the first batch of products covering tens of thousands of items, including AI image creation, AI painting, AI audio and video, and AI voice packages. Companies such as Miaoya Camera, Meitu, and Baidu's ERNIE Bot have already set up shops on the platform. Baidu's virtual digital human and AI virtual idol Du Xiaoxiao have also opened a "Xiaoxiao AI Everything Shop" on Taobao. This demonstrates that virtual companionship services are gradually becoming a popular business on online platforms.