Virtual humans are heating up the entertainment industry. In 2021, the virtual idol group 'Isekai Idol's' song 'KIDDING' gained immense popularity, reaching No. 1 on the Melon HOT 100 chart and No. 3 on the YouTube Music Korea popularity chart last year. Furthermore, this year, the virtual group 'PlayB' achieved a remarkable feat by securing the No. 1 spot on MBC's music broadcast program 'Show! Music Core,' surpassing popular singer 'BIBI' and girl group 'Le Sserafim.' This marked the first instance of a virtual singer topping a music broadcast, serving as a symbolic event showcasing the rapid expansion of virtual human applications fueled by IT technology.
Virtual humans refer to virtual individuals generated through IT technology and appearing on computer screens. They are meticulously crafted using artificial intelligence and computer graphics, making them incredibly realistic and nearly indistinguishable from real people. Their creation involves the utilization of various advanced technologies, including hyperrealism modeling, text-to-speech (TTS), rigging, and natural language processing (NLP).
Starting with the entertainment and gaming industries, the use of virtual humans is expanding rapidly across diverse fields. They are permeating various sectors, including music, fashion, education, and finance, leading to a rapid surge in market size. According to Emergen Research, a global market research firm, the global virtual human market is projected to grow from $10 billion in 2020 to approximately $500 billion by 2030.
In South Korea, virtual artist 'Han Yu-a' is paving the way for the future of the domestic virtual human industry, releasing her own music, starring in commercials, and achieving 250,000 views for her music video 'Violet Scent.' In the United States, virtual pop singer 'Lil Miquela,' portrayed as a 19-year-old Los Angeles native, runs a YouTube channel where she actively interacts with over 2.6 million followers. Numerous other virtual humans are demonstrating their immense potential by excelling as models, influencers, and YouTubers.
The gaming industry is also captivated by the charm of virtual humans. At the 'Game Developers Conference (GDC) 2023,' NCsoft (NC) unveiled a virtual human modeled after CEO Tae-jin Kim, receiving praise for its flawlessly rendered graphics and voice, achieved through TTS technology. The virtual idol group 'Maeum,' created through a collaboration between Netmarble F&C and Kakao Entertainment, has also gained significant popularity.
Meanwhile, SK Telecom has partnered with OnMind, a virtual human specialist, to feature the virtual human 'Nasua' as the model for its AI personal assistant, A.(Aidot). Naver and Kakao are also actively entering the virtual human market through Zepeto and Maeum, respectively.
The virtual YouTuber (VTuber) market has gained immense popularity among young generations, leveraging unique concepts and real-time interaction. This has led to their prominence in various fields, including webtoons and music production. Market research firm MarketWatch anticipates that the global VTuber market will grow by approximately sixfold by 2030, reaching $13.2 billion.
Various game companies are maximizing their marketing efforts through collaborations with VTubers. Krafton promoted 'PUBG Mobile' through a collaboration with 'Usada Pekora' of Hololive, while Nexon promoted its game 'Blue Archive' in collaboration with Japanese VTubers.
A gaming industry representative predicted, "Virtual humans can be extended into various content, such as webtoons and advertisements, and they can provide a more approachable experience for users, making them a core content area in the future."
With their flawless visuals and boundless creativity, virtual humans are expanding their applications across various industries. As technology continues to advance, leading to even more sophisticated virtual humans, it is worth paying close attention to how they will interact with our daily lives.
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