What will happen when AI takes the K-pop idol industry by storm? 4 Korean idol groups with virtual members & AI technology application, one disaster!
What comes to mind when you think of K-pop idol groups? Is it an endless brainwashing melody, a uniform dance move, or a peerless face that will never be forgotten?
The ever-changing modern technology has gradually blurred the boundaries between digital and reality, and the word "idol" has also stepped from the real world into the virtual universe, achieving more diversified creativity and imagination.
Today, AI artificial intelligence technology is maturing, and many virtual idols have emerged. Are you interested in Hallyu culture and AI technology, do you also want to understand the diverse development and novelty of virtual idols today?
A K-pop idol group using AI artificial intelligence
Metaverse girl group AESPA
In 2020, SM Entertainment, one of the three major brokerage companies in South Korea, took advantage of the budding trend of the meta-universe to launch the girl group aespa full of sci-fi sense.
Composed of 4 talented team members, and their AI avatars (ae) in the meta-universe, it is a "meta-universe girl group" with 8 members, and the virtual team members are created by the data uploaded daily by real team members, and SM Entertainment's grand ambition can be seen from the configuration of the members alone.
In the next three years, the group not only released music works full of sci-fi colors, but also released new story content with each new single, gradually strung together SM Culture Universe, allowing fans to enjoy the fantasy and happiness in it.
"Deep Real" face changing technology created by ETERN! TY
South Korean technology company Pulse9 uses artificial intelligence technology Deep Real to launch ETERN composed of 11 virtual idols in 2021! TY, officially debuted with the single "I'm Real".
The members originated from the two-month "AI Heart Challenge" audition six months ago, in which netizens voted for their favorite face from 101 virtual faces.
Although when he first debuted, because the expressions of the members in the "I'm Real" MV were too blunt, it caused a lot of discussion on the Internet, and even was ridiculed: "It's not real at all!" , observing the third single "Paradise" released a year later, there was a great breakthrough in the use of face changing technology, and both expressions and movements appeared more fluid.
South Korea's first virtual-real integrated AI boy group, Superkind
South Korean Deep Studio Entertainment released SAEJIN, the first virtual member of its boy group Superkind, in January 2022;
DELICATE PINK HAIR AND HANDSOME FACE ARE LIKE A SYNTHESIS OF MULTIPLE BOY GROUP FACADES, AND IN THE SELF-INTRODUCTION VIDEO RELEASED 7 MONTHS LATER, SAEJIN'S VOICE IS EVEN MORE CHARMING, MAKING PEOPLE FALL IN LOVE ACCIDENTALLY!
IN JUNE 2022, THE GROUP DEBUTED WITH THE SINGLE "WATCH OUT" BY FOUR REAL MEMBERS AND ONE VIRTUAL MEMBER SAEJIN, AND THE SINGLE "MOODY" RELEASED IN MARCH 2023 ADDED A REAL PERSON AND A VIRTUAL MEMBER WITH PURPLE HAIR, SEUNG.
As the first K-pop boy band with virtual members, Superkind has undoubtedly established a unique position in the entertainment industry, whether in the application of AI technology or the configuration of virtual and real integration.
South Korea's first all-AI "Won Girl Group" MAVE:
A four-member AI girl group MAVE:, created by game company "Metaverse Entertainment" and South Korean communication leader "Kakao Entertainment".
In less than a week after the release of the debut film in January 2023, it accumulated 5 million views; Realistic facial features, smooth movements, combined with the imaginative elements of science fiction movies, truly shortened the distance between the audience and the metaverse.
In addition to the amazing MV, MAVE: Even like other girl groups, they have appeared on the singing stage many times to promote new songs, and they also have their own support slogan!
MAVE: The release of the new song also aroused the curiosity of "peers", and on the official channel of the boy group Superkind, the surprised reaction of virtual member SEUNG watching the "Pandora" MV was all recorded, as if they were also real people jumping alive - so is the existence of AI idols more interesting?
How can AI technology be applied to build idol groups?
After watching several virtual idol groups, are you also curious about how AI artificial intelligence creates K-pop Idol? Whether you are an iron fan, a black fan or a passerby fan, when it comes to the birth of virtual idols, don't ask! Here's a list of several AI technologies that may be used in the idol industry.
1. Avatar design
Virtual idol groups like MAVE: can use techniques such as machine learning, deep learning, and 3D modeling to design realistic avatars that can be used in music videos, live performances, and interacting with fans, among other things.
2. Sound synthesis
AI technology can also be applied to sound synthesis, including natural language processing and speech synthesis, which can create realistic sound effects that allow virtual idols to create and perform more music.
3. Data analysis
The performances and music of idols can be analyzed by AI technology to understand fan preferences and feedback. This data can be used for fan interaction and creative development of idols.
4. Face recognition and body movement tracking
Idols can use AI technology for technologies such as face recognition and body motion tracking to create more vivid live performances, as well as for games and other virtual interactions.
(Guess what you want to see: K-POP Fan Girl Observation | Girl Crush: Why is it that the more "bad" female idols, the more female fans? ）
IMAGE|MAVE: @IG
What is the significance of the emergence of AI virtual idols?
Throughout the ages, the scientific and technological revolution will always bring great changes to people's lives, and the emergence of AI virtual idols not only marks an important node for artificial intelligence to mature, but also provides insight into the world's ability and motivation to enter a new era.
Starting from the virtual girl group K/DA that started with the video game "League of Legends" in 2018 and performed with AR augmented reality technology, to the explosion of the meta-universe after 2020 and the virtual idols generated through AI learning, it has undoubtedly brought new impacts and opportunities to today's real-life-based entertainment industry.
The advantages of highly malleable virtual idols through AI machine learning are obvious, such as: no need to worry about idol health, emotional and safety issues, unlimited performances without fatigue.
However, it is still difficult for them to truly interact or improve, and they may lack human emotion and connection, so they are highly dependent on the production team behind them, how to inject life and soul into them.
On the other hand, like the impact of AI on other industries, if AI idols become more popular in the future, it may reduce the job opportunities of real idols, leading to changes in the value chain of the entire entertainment industry.
In short, the success or failure of AI idols is related to their virtual nature, but in any case, I believe that with the advancement of science and technology, when the parallel universe of reality and virtual can move forward side by side, a more diverse and inclusive world will be created.
At that time, you and me, as the audience, will have more choices - you say, is such a world very exciting?