The Evolution of Digital Human in Asia: Asiabots Digital Human Ambassador

Technological Advancements in Digital Humans

The development of virtual humans has undergone significant transformations over the years. Initially, different forms such as anime-style characters, realistic human simulations, and 3D virtual beings were explored. Asiabots was the first company in Hong Kong to develop virtual humans as early as 2017. The earliest virtual human designs lacked complete facial features, consisting only of two large eyes. Later, Asiabots introduced anime-style AI Ambassador Carey and 3D-modeled virtual humans, which gained significant popularity.

The shift toward hyper-realistic virtual humans was driven by technological advancements, including Lipsync and FaceSwap. Asiabots began experimenting with these technologies in 2019, even testing them on silicone-based robots. By early 2022, the decision was made to integrate these innovations into the development of the Ambassador Digital Human.

To meet commercial application standards, the virtual human required real-time facial expressions and motion generation, with response times not exceeding one second.

Working with HKSTP and CUHK of Hong Kong. A project integrate NLP, AI voice TTS and Speech Recognition ASR into a physical silicone robot. 

First-Generation Digital Human: Overcoming the Uncanny Valley

Having prior experience in creating realistic virtual humans, Asiabots understood the technological challenges involved. One of the most critical aspects was overcoming the "uncanny valley" effect. Dynamic virtual humans required a realism threshold exceeding 92%, significantly higher than static images, to avoid an uncomfortable user experience. Ensuring a smooth and natural interaction was essential for commercial applications, as any unsettling facial expressions could distract users from the conversation and intended purpose.

Traditionally, creating virtual humans required real actors for motion capture, which was costly and time-consuming. Additionally, any outfit or hairstyle changes required new recordings, making the process inefficient. However, Asiabots had prior experience with Lipsync-based mouth synchronization, allowing the team to bypass previous limitations in the next generation of virtual human development.

Anime style AI digital human effectively avoid the uncanny valley problem in early stage 

The 2022 Leap: First-Generation Hyper-Realistic Virtual Humans

Instead of relying on existing tools like MidJourney, which often produced low-resolution, oil-painting-like images unsuitable for commercial use, Asiabots leveraged Diffusion AI technology to generate high-resolution, high-quality virtual humans from scratch. At the time, producing flawless AI-generated images was challenging, often resulting in artifacts like extra fingers. This required additional post-processing using Photoshop to correct visual defects.

To create a hyper-realistic virtual human, Asiabots developed a design concept inspired by contemporary celebrities. The final model was a blend of Korean and Chinese aesthetics, incorporating features such as specific eye shapes, facial contours, and hairstyles. The goal was to evoke familiarity without instant recognition, resulting in a composite image that captured diverse beauty standards.

Another key factor was ensuring commercial viability. The design had to appeal to a broad audience and avoid alignment with any specific industry. To achieve this, Asiabots adopted a professional and business-friendly clothing style for the virtual human.

The first public showcase took place at an exhibition with Samsung, where the AI Ambassador was integrated with the first iteration of LLM ChatGPT-3.5. This marked a major leap in AI-driven conversations, significantly expanding the scope of interactions. Although early AI-generated responses were relatively basic and occasionally monotonous, this demonstration provided a glimpse into the future of AI-human interaction.

Demonstration of Digital Human in the exhibition provides a brand new experience for the event industry 

It is also worth noting that the overall UI/UX and prototype design were finalized during the first generation and have been carried forward to subsequent iterations.

Advancements in Second-Generation Digital Humans

The second generation introduced several improvements:

• Increased diversity in avatars, including new personalities and styles.

• Expanded applications for different scenarios, including the introduction of male avatars.

• Enhanced body movements, make the virtual human feel more lifelike.

• A new engine that improved unnatural head tilting and stiff neck movements, creating more fluid animations.

Third-Generation Enhancements: Expanding Realism and Interaction

By mid-2023, the third-generation virtual human was in development. After collecting feedback from international users, Asiabots focused on further refining the model with:

• A next-generation AI image engine for higher clarity and detail.

• Semi-transparent screen technology, makes the virtual human appear even more realistic.

• Enhanced clothing-changing capabilities for seamless outfit transitions.

The third-generation virtual human made its debut in early 2024 during Asiabots' company expansion event, leaving clients with a refreshed impression of AI-driven digital humans.

Fourth-Generation Digital Humans: A Breakthrough in AI Interaction

The rapid advancement of AI technology has accelerated the evolution of virtual humans. In just 18 months, Asiabots progressed from the first to the third generation, highlighting the fast-paced development cycle. By mid-2024, work on the fourth generation had begun, building upon previous advancements with:

• Enhanced graphical fidelity and motion fluidity.

• Even more natural facial expressions and body movements.

• A major public showcase at the 2024 Hong Kong FinTech Week, where the AI Ambassador "Evelyn" was featured as a guest alongside the Hong Kong Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Christopher Hui. The AI-powered Evelyn engaged in real-time conversations on stage, demonstrating an unprecedented level of realism and interaction.

Reference: AI Evelyn at Hong Kong FinTech Week 2024

The Future: Fifth-Generation Digital Humans

With the fifth-generation virtual human on the horizon, what new technologies will Asiabots introduce?

Reflecting on university studies in HCI (Human-Computer Interaction), many elements once considered theoretical are now being realized. As AI approaches human-like intelligence and expression, a fundamental question arises: Is the ultimate goal of AI development to create beings indistinguishable from humans?

Will AI gain deeper emotional expression and even replicate human imperfections? Or will it evolve beyond human capabilities, reaching a state of intelligence that surpasses our imagination? If AI eventually surpasses human intelligence, will it, in turn, create an even greater form of intelligence?

The future remains uncertain, but one thing is clear—AI-driven digital humans are set to redefine our interaction with technology. Stay tuned for what's next!