#ai #technology #artificialintelligence #futurism #airevolution #ecommerce… | Avi Hakhamanesh | 57 comments

🌟🌟 AI-powered virtual hosts are the rising stars of China’s live-streaming e-commerce market.   But they’re also disrupting it.   Livestreaming has become a dominant marketing channel in China, with top influencers moving billions worth of goods in a single night.   But for smaller brands, training human hosts and the technical nuances of livestreaming come at a high cost. Enter AI.   Beginning last year, a wave of Chinese companies began offering services that allow businesses to create their very own AI-powered virtual hosts for their livestreams. For just $1,100 and a few minutes of sample video, brands can clone a human streamer to work tirelessly around the clock (24/7.)   Brands just need to input basic product information, proofread the script created by AI, and watch the digital influencer go live. These AI clones, trained on common scripts and gestures seen in e-commerce videos, are capable of replicating the body language and emotional nuances of their human counterparts. Advanced versions can even interact with the audience and react to live comments, shifting their marketing tactics based on audience size and viewer engagement in real-time. Ironically, this adds a layer of emotional connection that traditional e-commerce platforms often lack. While these AI streamers can't outshine star e-commerce influencers, they’re a convincing replacement for mid-tier human streamers. The average salary for hosts in China has dropped 20% in the past year. For brands, this means lower costs and infinite scalability - the potential to keep the livestream going 24/7 including off-peak hours makes it hard to justify the cost of hiring real streamers. As AI becomes more advanced and affordable, companies worldwide will be tempted to follow China's lead, with expanding use cases across many industries.  But we need to deeply examine the societal implications as capabilities grow. I wrestle with myself every time I hit “post” on topics like these. They understandably carry a high emotional charge, and this kind of news can feel anxiety inducing especially when the consequences are – for the most part - inevitable. But I believe that we need to prepare ourselves psychologically and strategically for the emerging complexities and challenges. Avoiding difficult conversations won't make disruption any less real. Honest dialogue will help us navigate what’s ahead. I have far more questions than answers: ➡️ Where do we draw the line? ➡️ How will these shifts impact our notions of genuine human connection? ➡️ As consumers, what is our threshold for AI-powered personalities? ➡️ How will the use of virtual personalities impact trust? ➡️ Will the financial temptation for brands overshadow the broader societal implications? I’d love to know your thoughts. For a deeper dive, check out the link in the comments 👇. #AI #Technology #ArtificialIntelligence #Futurism #AIRevolution #Ecommerce #EthicalAI #ResponsbleAI | 57 comments on LinkedIn