The virtual world ― or metaverse ― is the leading emerging technology worldwide. Virtual humans are rising to become integral to various industries, from entertainment and corporations to retail. Emergene Research, a global market research firm, predicted that the virtual human market will grow to $527.58 billion (about 688,491.9 billion won) by 2030
Korean AI services company ESTSoft Inc.(047560.KQ) is developing its AI Virtual Human and metaverse technology to provide various services to various industries. The company announced in October 2022 that it has launched ‘AI Studio Perso,’ a video production service that uses AI Virtual Humans. AI Studio Perso is a specialized service that can create high-quality videos featuring AI virtual humans using text input and video editing.
Cloning and Creating Virtual Humans with AI
ESTSoft’s technology includes two new components, one of AI Cloning and the other of AI Persona. In AI Cloning technology replicates the actual human through the use of real-life appearance, voice and identity. AI Persona is the production of an entirely new persona that fits actual life purposes and content. AI Studio Perso produces videos using AI Clone and AI Persona.
AI Cloning uses Voice Generation AI (Text to Speech) and Face Generation AI (Speech to Face) to replicate a real-life human through deep learning of videos of the person. The estimated time for AI Cloning is about five days, with five hours of video requirement data for development. The technology delivers a replica of a real-life person. ESTsoft has successfully created a Virtual Human replica of YTN anchor Byun Sang-wook, an AI instructor using Hunet’s Lee Min-young and an AI anchor with ESTsoft’s Park Eun-bo using AI Cloning.
AI Persona creates Virtual Humans with unique appearances and features. It uses high-level facial analysis, & pre-processing techniques and analyses and trains multiple faces using AI. ESTsoft has created AI Virtual Human named E-so Kim utilizing the technology.
Virtual Studio for efficient video production
AI Studio Perso service provides the option to utilize AI Cloning and AI Persona technologies. AI Studio Perso provides a user-friendly service environment. The AI virtual human installed in AI Studio Perso is capable of various productions. The user can easily change the voice tone and movement of the AI virtual human according to the purpose of video production through the speech mode.
The strength of AI Studio Perso lies in creating the AI virtual human with natural movement. In particular, it exhibits a very high lip synchro rate when uttering input text and smooth upper body movement. In addition, all functions are intuitively configured so that the entire video production process, from selecting a virtual human to decorating the video and inputting text, is easy. Users can understand and utilize all service functions without any separate explanation.
As the demand for content has shifted to video in recent years, there is an increasing demand for introducing a virtual human to maximize the attention and information delivery effect of the video, away from text or image-oriented video. Virtual humans and Virtual studios can reduce the cost, time, and complicated process required in the existing video content production environment and, in the long term, reduce the burden of continuous content creation, upload, and transmission.
Byun Gye-poong, head of ESTsoft’s AI business division, said, “AI Studio Perso is the most specialized video production service based on AI virtual human, which maximizes the attention and information delivery effect of video and helps to continuously create various contents with simple manipulations. AI Persona is one of our core technologies, and it is in high demand because it can create new IPs to expand added value. It can be freed from various restrictions and problems, including the right to portrait of a real person.” He continued, “We expect that our video production service based on AI virtual human will greatly help video production and business development using IP.”
Creating multiple businesses with AI-technology
ESTsoft established an AI Plus Lab in 2017 for R&D for AI technology. In 2021, the company developed AI Cloning and, in collaboration with leading media company YTN, produced AI news anchor Byun Sang-wook from real-life data of the actual anchor. The company also developed HUNET AI Instructor Lee Min-young and AI announcer Park Eun-bro using AI Cloning. The software development company then worked on developing the AI Persona technology.
In 2022, ESTsoft is promoting its Virtual Human technology for B2B2C establishments linked to shopping, games, entertainment, etc. It is expanding its multi-faceted business by establishing Virtual Human Agency by securing IP within the metaverse. The company aims to enter the global B2C business with Virtual Human technology and become a leader in the metaverse arena.
ESTsoft also has developed AR Commerce service ROUNZ, an AI vision recognition technology, for virtual fitting tests for glasses and sunglasses. The company’s ESTsecurity is an integrated security solution for B2B, and B2C clients with antivirus software, document security products, AI intelligence solutions, etc. ESTsoft also has ESTgames, a gaming service, Techfin, an AI investment platform, and software development services. The company is continuously advancing its B2B and B2C businesses and introducing new technologies.
