[This essay from Forbes presents statistics and expert predictions about the rapid rise of technologies that simulate humans and evoke medium as social actor presence; provides some potentially useful definitions that distinguish the technologies based on their characteristics, applications and impacts; and concludes with links to several state-of-the-art tools for creating the most sophisticated category of simulations, digital humans. –Matthew]
From Science Fiction To Reality: How Digital Humans Are Forging New Realities
By Kuk Jiang, Forbes Technology Council Member; Kuk is the cofounder of ZEGOCLOUD, a global cloud communication service provider of real-time audio and video communication APIs and SDKs
June 8, 2023
Digital humans, once a concept only found in science fiction movies, have become a reality thanks to AI and 3D animation technology advancements. What started as animated human-like creatures in the video game industry has now transformed into highly detailed and realistic human models that can overcome the limitations of realism and sophistication.
With the help of advances in computer graphics and machine learning algorithms, digital humans have been able to interact with real humans in natural and intuitive ways. Technology has made them valuable assets in various industries. They can efficiently assist and support virtual customer service, healthcare and remote education scenarios.
Given the potential applications and benefits of digital humans across various industries, it is unsurprising that there has been a recent rise in investments in the digital human market.
The Growing Digital Human Economy
The development and deployment of virtual human-like beings fuel the expansion of the digital human economy, requiring the creation of a new digital ecosystem with the necessary technology and infrastructure. Digital humans enable people and businesses to interact and engage in innovative and creative ways, transforming how we live and work.
Gartner Inc. reports (subscription required) that the worldwide digital human market reached a value of $11.3 billion in 2021 and is expected to reach $125 billion by 2035, with North America leading the way due to its adoption of cutting-edge technologies such as conversational AI, deep learning and natural language processing (NLP). The presence of industry leaders like UneeQ and Microsoft Corporation, along with increasing venture funding initiatives, is driving market expansion. Allied Market Research projects an even higher growth rate for the digital human economy, expecting it to reach $440.3 billion by 2031.
The digital human economy spans technologies from digital assistants and chatbots to avatars. While people often use these terms interchangeably, there are significant differences that reflect the diverse ways digital humans can enhance our lives and businesses.
Digital Humans, Virtual Avatars, Digital Assistants: What’s Different?
Digital humans are among the current vital trends altering human-machine interactions. However, the abundance of industry buzzwords such as digital assistants, virtual avatars, robots and chatbots often leads to confusion. Despite the similarities in terminology, we will briefly outline the significant differences between these technologies.
Digital Human Vs. Virtual Avatar:
Digital humans have high-end features that accurately replicate the appearance of a human being. Due to their realistic appearance, digital humans offer users a more engaging and personalized experience. Scenarios that require high realism and emotional engagement—such as healthcare, education and customer service—can widely use them.
On the other hand, virtual avatars are stylized and often cartoonish digital characters. Primarily used in gaming, social media and virtual events, they can provide users with an entertaining experience due to their unique appearance and limited functionality.
Digital Human Vs. Digital Assistant:
Siri, Alexa and Google Assistant are intelligent digital assistants that rely on sophisticated computer software, machine learning and NLP to mimic a conversational experience, going beyond Q&A interactions. Digital assistants are chatbots, but not all chatbots are digital assistants.
Digital humans are humanized versions of chatbots and digital assistants that are used for customer care, engaging in content-related dialogues and compensating for the frustration of text-only chatbots. Unlike digital assistants and chatbots, they are designed to engage in naturally occurring conversations. Companies use digital humans as the face of customer assistance and service.
Disruptive Technology
Digital humans have a disruptive effect on our economy as they prompt businesses to adjust to a new era. The widespread use of digital humans will have significant implications for employment, particularly in industries like customer service and hospitality. Cutting-edge technologies like 3D scanning, speech synthesis and motion capture are employed to achieve lifelike digital humans.
Although 3D modeling technology is relatively easy to understand, creating lifelike lip movements and motion in digital humans is a multistep process:
1. Video algorithm training uses text-to-speech and mouth-shape data to generate lifelike mouth movements in real time for any input text, allowing digital humans to replicate natural movements.
2. Speech recognition annotates speech and binds data to actions, enabling digital humans to respond with lifelike movements to specific words and contexts for immersive virtual experiences.
3. Motion capture devices capture and transmit physical movements to a digital human for real-time replication.
Digital Humans In Real Life
The use of digital human models presents developers and companies with the opportunity to push the boundaries of AI and 3D animation innovation.
Neon, created by Samsung Technology and Advanced Research Lab (STAR Labs), is an example of a digital human incorporating AI, 3D modeling and innovative animation technologies. It boasts several key features, including dynamic facial expressions and gestures, powerful language capabilities, context-aware responses, and behavior and sentiment understanding. It has the ability to support businesses by helping their customers anytime, anywhere and in any language.
Pandorabots is a platform that uses speech synthesis and recognition technology to provide tools and services for building and deploying empathic chatbots and conversational AI to conduct emotional communications. It has become a preferred solution for various industries, from entertainment and voice interaction to B2C messaging and customer service scenarios.
Siren is a digital human that showcases the potential of 3D/4D scanning technology for digitizing human appearance and motion with unprecedented realism.
Epic Games Inc. is a leading developer of the popular video game engine Unreal Engine. Recently, the company launched the highly anticipated MetaHuman Creator, a tool for creating high-fidelity digital humans for various applications including video games, film and more. The MetaHuman Creator is powered by advanced motion capture and rendering technology, enabling creators to create lifelike characters that can be customized and animated for various uses.
The advancement of digital humans is disrupting our world in profound and unpredictable ways. As they become increasingly intelligent, empathetic and capable, they will reshape businesses, society and human relationships at every level.
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