South Korea is the world's testing ground for tech. But also, in terms of entertainment the world is increasingly looking that way since TV sensations like The Masked Singer and Squid Game hit our screens and K-pop groups took over concert stadiums and teenage hearts all over the world. Now, the next big thing coming out of Korea might be synthetic influencers.
MIPTV 2022 CONFERENCES SQUID GAME: THE INTERVIEW
Influencers have become an important part of the media eco-system and powerful marketing tools. Especially Gen Z are completely under the Influencer effect. However, as technology continues to evolve, a new kind of influencer has emerged: the synthetic influencer. These digital creations, made entirely of computer-generated imagery (CGI), have the potential to revolutionize the world of media. Let's explore the rise of the synthetic influencers, their advantages, and disadvantages, and what the future holds for this innovative technology.
Synthetic K-Pop Influencers One of the biggest players in this field is Kakao Entertainment, a leading entertainment company in Korea with a well-diversified portfolio offering everything from webtoons to films and dramas, talent management, and K-pop all under one roof. Using new imaginative ways to maximize the lifecycle and value of content IPs, Kakao Entertainment delivers a holistic entertainment experience in synergy with its tech-driven ecosystem.
An example for that is Mave, the first artificial K-pop group created entirely within the metaverse. Using machine learning, deep fake, face swap and 3D production technology to bring the group alive.
Synthetic Influencers on TV Kakao Entertainment is also producing TV shows such as GIRL'S RE:VERSE, a virtual survival show that features 30 female K-pop performers, both current and past, who compete with each other in a virtual world called W to have the chance to debut a new virtual K-pop group. Their real identities are hidden with the use of virtual characters so that only their dancing and singing skills, as well as their charms are shown. The program uses VR motion capture technology to capture their physical movements and facial expressions which is then projected onto each contestant's unique virtual character in real-time. Viewers can guess the identity of the contestants and only those eliminated are allowed to reveal their actual identity. The last five standing make it into the brand-new idol band.
The show premiered in January on South Korean OTT platform Kakao TV and was also shown on Japan's ABEMA TV platform and USA's KOCOWA platfom as well as being available worldwide on YouTube.
Another example for these kinds of metaverse shows is a TV reality show called Avatar Singer which is a 15-episode music competition that ran live on Korean TV Channel MBN. It features ten celebrity competitors masked as digital 3D avatars complete with superpowers.
These shows are the next level of The Masked Singer and similar to Fox's Alter Ego, in which contestants stand backstage while singing and dancing, as motion capture technology projects an avatar on stage that moves when the person does. The judges then decide who has the best performance.
Superplastic and Amazon Studios' Collaboration While Korea is way ahead when it comes to synthetic influencers, the trend has also reached the US already. Superplastic is a startup that creates and develops synthetic influencers and has recently raised $20 million led by Amazon's Alexa Fund. The strategic investment that will see Superplastic and its synthetic celebrities, with millions of followers on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram, initially collaborating on an animated comedy series with Amazon Studios. They will also work closely with Amazon to look for more ways to connect with younger consumers. The plan is to build out more character-based products - the Superplastic character universe , as the startup calls it - across platforms such as games and other social networks. Other investors include Craft Ventures, Google Ventures, Galaxy Digital, Kering, Sony Japan, Scribble Ventures, Kakao, Animoca Brands, Day One Ventures and Betaworks.
Amazon's interest in Superplastic highlights a recurring theme in tech right now: we're seeing increasingly blurred lines between media and technology, where one is being leveraged to propagate the other, in today's digital landscape. Superplastic's founder and CEO Paul Budnitz sees companies like his as this generation's Disney: beloved characters with a universe of experiences built around them. In today's world, that experience, and the beloved characters themselves, inevitably have a major tech component. In regard to Social Media he says: The usage and momentum on there provides insights about how a piece of content will play with all of our audience. That matters to Amazon.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Synthetic Influencers The advantages of using a synthetic influencer over a human influencer are easy to see. Synthetic influencers are entirely computer-generated, which means that the creators have complete control over the character. Especially after the recent Kanye West disaster, a synthetic influencer seems like the safe choice for a brand. Another advantage is that synthetic influencers are always available, 24/7. A lot of human influencers suffer from burnouts eventually, that's not the case with synthetic influencers. And finally, synthetic influencers can be programmed to speak multiple languages and can be customized to suit different markets and cultures. The girls of above-mentioned K-pop group Mave are supposed to converse in, say Portuguese with a Brazilian fan and in German with someone in Germany, fluently and convincingly. This versatility can help brands reach a more diverse audience and expand the
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
04/08/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
04/07/2026
April 7 2026, 19:00 (PDT) Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in...
01/06/2026
January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026
Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...
30/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
30/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
30/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
30/05/2026
Zero in on one that says yes (and no)
Andy Marken May 29, 2026
0 Comments
Hero image courtesy of Deposit Photos
For content creators the most difficu...
29/05/2026
With InfoComm 2026 just weeks away, NDI is giving attendees plenty of reasons to...
29/05/2026
Reaffirming a partnership that has defined Canadian sports broadcasting since 19...
29/05/2026
Mobile/tablet is No. 2 device for watching TV, suggesting that the sports-production industry needs to take another look at the format
Ring Digital's Sprin...
29/05/2026
Berliner Ensemble, one of Berlin's five major theater companies, has expande...
29/05/2026
Solid State Logic will showcase its new compact, fly-away TCA Tour audio product...
29/05/2026
Gerald (Jerry) Pierce, a pioneering technologist who helped shape the digital transformation of the motion picture industry, passed away last month on April 12 ...
29/05/2026
Paramount+ will be the English-language U.S. home for Barclays Women's Super...
29/05/2026
Further strengthening its virtualisation strategy to fully support broadcasters ...
29/05/2026
Swiss broadcaster Canal Alpha has deployed Harmonic's award-winning, software-based XOS Advanced Media Processor to modernize playout operations across cant...
29/05/2026
PTZOptics will showcase a new generation of intelligent video workflows at InfoComm 2026, June 17-19, Las Vegas. Visitors to booth N8227 will see how PTZOptics ...
29/05/2026
Arizona's Family has launched the Arizona's Family Sports (AZFS) streaming app, a new direct-to-consumer destination for live, local sports. The app is ...
29/05/2026
Starting in 2027, DAZN will be the exclusive home of The Canadian Football Leagu...
29/05/2026
Comcast Business has detailed the advanced network infrastructure it has deploye...
29/05/2026
In two-day event, leaders from academia and industry explored solutions to chall...
29/05/2026
The Basketball Tournament (TBT), now entering their 13th year of competition, ha...
29/05/2026
Roku has launched FOX One as a Premium Subscription on The Roku Channel in the U.S. Roku customers can now subscribe to FOX One using their Roku account for liv...
29/05/2026
In its sixth year, the broadcaster's coverage has become a global brand and ...
29/05/2026
Ratings Roundup is a rundown of recent ratings news and is derived from press re...
29/05/2026
The days are getting longer, the temperatures are rising, and playlists are filling up for the season. With summer around the corner, Spotify's global edito...
29/05/2026
New retro-inspired MPC announced
There are few devices that have gained the status held by Akai Pro's MPC range, and in recent years, the company have s...
29/05/2026
Save up to 30 on acclaimed titles
Following a successful launch at Superbooth 2026, Bjooks have revealed that they will be continuing the Kickstarter campa...
29/05/2026
Binaural monitoring application improved
Genelec have just released an update that brings some powerful new features to their HRTF-based binaural headphone ...
29/05/2026
6 June 2026 at SAE Institute, London, UK
IMSTA FESTA 2026 is almost upon us, with some of the biggest names in pro-audio set to descend upon SAE Institute i...
29/05/2026
Gerald (Jerry) Pierce, a pioneering technologist who helped shape the digital transformation of the motion picture industry, died April 12, 2026, at his home in...
29/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
29/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
29/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
29/05/2026
Comparing 5 AI Video Enhancers for Restoring Old Video Quality
Kate Luvis May 29, 2026
0 Comments
Digitizing VHS, MiniDV, and other legacy formats doe...
29/05/2026
Studio Hamburg Builds New Post Pipeline with DaVinci Resolve Studio
Brie Clayton May 29, 2026
0 Comments
Workflow replaces a patchwork of legacy tools...
29/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
29/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
29/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
29/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
29/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
29/05/2026
At the Intersection of Music and Dance, an Epic Collaboration Boston Conservatory musicians and dancers found creative parallels in their recent performance o...
29/05/2026
Back to All News
Latino Film Institute Fellows Screen Their Short Films at the Egyptian Theatre
The Inclusion Fellowship and Spark Animation Grant uplifts 15 ...
29/05/2026
GLOOKAST LAUNCHES CINNAFILM TACHYON PLUGIN FOR MEDIA PRODUCER AND MEDIA SERVICES
This release first appeared here.
Visit our Tachyon product page or contact...
29/05/2026
May 29 2026, 09:00 (PDT) Dolby and rednote Bring More Immersive Storytelling to...
29/05/2026
Something fundamental has shifted in how people consume media. Audiences aren't abandoning television or radio content; they're just expanding how, wher...
29/05/2026
Youtube exclusive special drops today
Watch now
UKTV today announces another e...
29/05/2026
Back to All News
The Official Trailer of Physical 100 Italy, on Netflix From Se...
South Korea is the world's testing ground for tech. But also, in terms of entertainment the world is increasingly looking that way since TV sensations like The Masked Singer and Squid Game hit our screens and K-pop groups took over concert stadiums and teenage hearts all over the world. Now, the next big thing coming out of Korea might be synthetic influencers.
