What Are AI Digital Humans? Do You Really Know?
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In this era of rapid technological advancement, we have not only witnessed numerous innovations and breakthroughs brought by artificial intelligence but also seen the rise of AI digital humans. However, do you truly feel indifferent to the concept of 'AI digital humans'? Perhaps, I can tell you that it is a field full of imagination and possibilities, combining artificial intelligence with virtual characters to create astonishing digital beings.
Digital humans, as virtual characters with human-like appearances, language, and expressive abilities, have gradually entered the public eye in recent years. After the explosion of the metaverse in 2021, digital humans, as one of the mediums connecting the real world and the metaverse, began to enter the market on a large scale, and the digital virtual industry also ushered in a period of vigorous development.
According to relevant data, as of May this year, the number of enterprises involved in virtual idols/digital humans has reached 3,834, with over 1,000 new enterprises added in 2021 alone, a year-on-year increase of 63.69%. In the first quarter of 2022, nearly 300 new related enterprises were added, a year-on-year increase of 67.47%. These figures indicate that the digital virtual industry is in a phase of rapid growth.
Research reports show that in 2021, the core market size of virtual humans in China reached 6.22 billion yuan, driving the overall industry market size to 107.49 billion yuan. It is estimated that by 2025, these two figures will grow to 48.06 billion yuan and 640.27 billion yuan, respectively. This highlights the enormous potential and prospects of the digital human industry.
Compared to real humans, digital humans are cost-effective and unrestricted by time or space. With continuous technological advancements, their applications are gradually expanding and unlocking new possibilities. For instance, ZhuYu Future Technology's "ZhuYu" APP is a product built on a novel concept. The company utilizes advanced AI cross-modal digital human 2.0 technology to create hyper-realistic virtual models of celebrities on its platform, achieving highly human-like thoughts and behaviors. This enables users to customize "real-voice" blessing videos.
However, predicting the future direction of the digital human industry still carries some uncertainty. What is certain is that driven by fervent interest, the industry will continue to experience large-scale growth. Alongside this, technological demands will also rise. With ongoing innovation and breakthroughs, we can anticipate the emergence of even more lifelike and intelligent digital humans, catering to diverse needs in entertainment, education, healthcare, and beyond.
Despite facing challenges and unknowns, the digital human industry holds immense market potential and broad application prospects, sparking excitement. We look forward to continuous innovation and development in digital human technology, bringing richer and more authentic virtual experiences that integrate AI into every aspect of our daily lives.
In summary, AI-powered digital humans will further integrate into our social fabric, offering more meaningful applications. Over time, the industry will undoubtedly mature and refine, helping to build a more diverse and innovative digital world for all.