The Rise of AI Kpop Groups in the Entertainment Industry
The Kpop group Eternity may seem like any other typical Kpop group, with its members singing, dancing, and looking cute. However, there’s one unique aspect about Eternity – the members were created by artificial intelligence. In a recent interview with CNN, Zae-in, the group’s leader, revealed, “The only thing we cannot do is sign an autograph.” This innovative use of AI in the entertainment industry is just the beginning, as more AI-powered groups are expected to emerge worldwide.
As technology continues to evolve, with generative AI, virtual reality, and blockchains becoming a part of our daily lives, it’s no surprise that these advancements are transforming various facets of our society, including entertainment. The AI Kpop group Eternity represents the fusion of the real and the virtual in the world of entertainment. Upon closer inspection, it becomes evident that the tech revolution in entertainment is well underway!
The Making of an AI Kpop Group
In an article by SCMP, CNN shared insights into how tech company Pulse9 brought Eternity to “life.” Pulse9’s CEO, Park Ji-eun, and his team generated 101 unique faces and categorized them into four groups: “innocent,” “cute,” “intelligent,” and “sexy.” Through an online survey, they narrowed down the selection to 11 faces. Motion capture and deepfake technologies were then used to create the AI Kpop band’s first music video, ironically titled “I’m Real.” The video received mixed reactions, with many social media users pointing out the unnatural facial expressions and disconnected bodies, eliciting a feeling of discomfort known as the “uncanny valley” effect – similar to how people react to humanoid robots like Ameca.
However, perceptions quickly changed when Pulse9 released another music video for Eternity’s song “No Filter.” People were amazed at how realistic the group looked and sounded, with the most-liked YouTube comment stating, “I’m surprised how realistic they sound, and the visuals look more realistic than the debut song.” This positive response highlighted the progress made by AI in creating lifelike virtual performers.
AI’s Advancements in the Entertainment Industry
Eternity’s journey showcases the rapid advancements in AI technology. In October 2023, the AI Kpop group released their music video for “DTDTGMGN,” demonstrating another leap in quality. Viewers were awestruck by the video’s high production value, with one top comment stating, “If you didn’t tell me this was an AI group, I’d think this was a heavily filtered MV. This MV and song is much better than the debut.” The Pulse9 executive explained that AI technology can now create full-body images, not just virtual faces, signaling the continued growth and potential of AI in the entertainment industry. It’s worth noting that although the AI was used to compose the song “No Filter,” human editors and lyricists contributed to the final product.
Aside from Pulse9, another agency called Metaverse Entertainment debuted an AI Kpop group named MAVE. Unlike Eternity, MAVE’s members were created from scratch using computer-generated imagery (CGI), showcasing the versatility and range of AI in the entertainment world.
Other Tech-Based Entertainment Forms
South Korea has been at the forefront of exploring alternative forms of pop music entertainment even before incorporating AI. In 2018, the League of Legends World Championship featured K/DA, a virtual girl group consisting of League of Legends characters portrayed by real artists. These artists performed alongside holographic avatars of their respective characters, creating a unique blend of real and virtual performances.
Last month, the first-ever cryptocurrency girl group TripleS made its Southeast Asian debut at Philippine Blockchain Week. This group leverages blockchain technology to enhance fan engagement. Using the Polygon blockchain, fans can vote on the group’s next actions, such as choosing the title track for TripleS’ “ASSEMBLE” album. Voting takes place on the official app “Cosmo: The Origin” using digital tokens called COMO, which are obtained through buying exclusive NFT photo cards known as “objeckts.” These tokens also serve as governance tokens, allowing holders to vote on the network and influence TripleS’s future activities.
In Conclusion
While the emergence of AI Kpop groups raises concerns about job displacement for aspiring singers and dancers, Pulse9’s CEO, Park Ji-eun, believes that human artists will always have a special place in the hearts of fans. He compares the rise of AI in entertainment to the invention of photography, which initially worried painters but ultimately coexisted with traditional art. “BTS will never be afraid of virtual idols – they’re just new content,” he stated.
As technology continues to advance, AI-powered entertainment forms like Eternity, K/DA, and TripleS showcase the limitless possibilities and potential for innovation in the entertainment industry. These developments provide exciting avenues for creative expression and revolutionize fan experiences. The future of entertainment is here, blurring the lines between the real and the virtual.
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