Meet Zaein, one of the most active artificially intelligent (AI)-created virtual beings in South Korea.
Zaein can sing, read the news, and sell designer clothing. However, she is not just any South Korean star. She has sleek black hair and subtle makeup.
One of the most popular virtual avatars in the nation, Zaein, uses deepfake technology.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is being embraced by South Korea in numerous industries, from newsrooms utilizing Deepfake presenters to AI pastors.
Deepfake avatars are trending
The organization Pulse9 developed Zaein. This South Korean company, which specializes in AI, has already produced a number of digital characters for some of the biggest conglomerates in the nation, including retail giant Shinsegae.
The team is “working on developing the technology to broaden AI human use,” the company’s CEO Park Ji-Eun told AFP.
Star agencies were the first to make investments in the creation of virtual avatars in K-pop’s native country.
According to Park, the goal of Pulse9 is to “demonstrate that these virtual humans are not just fantasy idols but can coexist with humans as colleagues and friends.”
Although human input is still required in the process, she continued, “Virtual humans are basically capable of carrying out much of what real people do, until a really strong AI is developed.”
Zaein’s face was created using deep learning, a technique that instructs computers using a strategy inspired by the human brain. The algorithm looked at the faces of K-pop celebrities from the previous 20 years.
Twelve people, each with a unique talent (singing, dancing, acting, etc.), overlapped with the deepfake to help develop Zaein’s persona.
“I think it can be a good practice for people who want to become celebrities, and that’s what appealed to me,” one of the performers told AFP. “I’d love to try acting as a man if I can manage my voice well, and maybe a foreigner — something that I can’t become in real life,” she continued.