AI Kpop groups usher in new entertainment wave

The Kpop group Eternity seems like any other; its members can sing, dance, and rap while looking cute. However, the group’s leader, Zae-in, told CNN, “The only thing we cannot do is sign an autograph.” Unlike most artists, artificial intelligence created her and the other Eternity members. Soon, more groups like hers will emerge worldwide.

Technology continues to evolve as generative AI, virtual reality, and blockchains become part of daily life. Consequently, it’s unsurprising that it is transforming more facets of our society, specifically our entertainment. The AI Kpop group Eternity is only one of the first to merge the real and the virtual. Look closer, and you’ll see entertainment’s tech revolution growing!

This article will discuss how companies create AI K-pop groups. Later, I will show you the entertainment industry’s other tech transformations.

How do you make an AI Kpop group?

Photo Credit: scmp.com

CNN shared how tech company Pulse9 brought Eternity to “life.” CEO Park Ji-eun and his team generated 101 unique faces and then divided them into four groups: “innocent,” “cute,” “intelligent,” and “sexy.”

They narrowed the selection to 11 based on an online survey’s results. Next, they used motion capture and deepfake tech to produce the AI Kpop band’s first music video in 2021.

Ironically, it accompanied the song “I’m Real.” As a result, people shared mixed feelings about the video. Many social media users said the members’ facial expressions looked unnatural.

The bodies also seemed separate from their bodies. Some reported the “uncanny valley” effect, the feeling of discomfort when seeing human-like objects.

It’s the same people feel when looking at humanoid robots like Ameca. However, sentiments changed when Pulse9 released another Eternity music video for “No Filter.”

People realized the group was almost indistinguishable from the real thing. The most liked YouTube comment read, “I’m surprised how realistic they sound, and the visuals look more realistic than the debut song.”

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In October 2023, the AI Kpop group exhibited another leap in quality with its “DTDTGMGN” music video. One of the top comments said, “If you didn’t tell me this was an AI group, I’d think this was a heavily filtered MV [music video]. This MV and song is much better than the debut.”

“Until last year, the face was the only virtual part of the performer, but today we can make whole full body (images) based on AI technology,” the Pulse9 exec said. Also, he noted his company composed “No Filter” using AI (although humans then edited the song and wrote lyrics).

Another agency, Metaverse Entertainment, debuted another AI Kpop group named MAVE. Until Eternity, the company created the members from scratch via computer-generated imagery (CGI).

What are some other tech-based entertainment forms?

Photo Credit: allkpop.com

South Korea has created alternative forms of its pop music before applying artificial intelligence. For example, its 2018 League of Legends World Championship featured K/DA, a virtual girl group.

It consists of League of Legends characters played by real artists. That year, Miyeon, Soyeon, Madison Beer, and Jaira Burns performed live alongside holographic avatars of their respective virtual characters: Ahri, Akali, Evelynn, and Kai’Sa.

Last month, the first-ever cryptocurrency girl group TripleS made its Southeast Asian debut at Philippine Blockchain Week. It uses blockchain technology to improve fan experience and engagement.

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It uses the Polygon blockchain to let fans vote on the group’s next actions. For example, it enabled enthusiasts to choose the title track for TripleS’ “ASSEMBLE” album.

People voted on its official app, “Cosmo: The Origin.” They voted with COMO, a digital token from exclusive NFT photo cards called “objeckts.”

Each objeckt rewards buyers with one COMO. Next, Polygon Labs, Hashed, and Near Protocol-backed Ramper stored votes. COMO coins are governance tokens, enabling holders to vote on the network and TripleS’s future activities.

Conclusion

South Korea launched AI Kpop groups that are nearly indistinguishable from human artists. Some fear they may take jobs away from aspiring singers and dancers.

However, Pulse9 CEO Park Ji-eun said some fans will always prefer human artists. He compared AI’s emergence to the invention of photography in the 19th century.

“Many painters were afraid of (the new) technology, but today, we still have painters. I think BTS will never be afraid of virtual idols — they’re just new content,” he said. Learn more about the latest digital tips and trends at Inquirer Tech.