The Singles Society in the Metaverse Era: Virtual Digital Humans Welcome Spring

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The "single society" is a phenomenon of globalization.

According to the data report released by iiMedia Consulting in 2021, since 2019, the single population in major countries in the world has exceeded 20% of the total population, of which the proportion of single population in Sweden is as high as 51%. China's single population is 240 million (2018), which is close to the total population of the United States. Japan's National Institute of Social Security and Population Research estimated in 2017 that by 2035, the single rate of all people over the age of 15 in Japan (including unmarried, divorced, and widowed) will reach 48%, accounting for about half of the entire Japanese population.

The steadily increasing number of single people globally year by year indicates a significant demand for potential emotional companionship from this large single population.

The movie "Her" presents the emotions between real people and the "virtual person" that exists in voice form.

Emotional Needs in the Era of Being Single

Artworks are a reflection of reality. The movie "Her" tells the story of a man in real life who develops feelings and affection for a woman that exists as a "voice persona." In a bustling big city where people rush by, the single man encounters this "virtual woman" who exists in voice form. She offers him a lot of comfort and accompanies him through many important life milestones, making him feel less lonely amidst the tide of the crowd (the film subtly raises the dilemma of the difference between loving a virtual person and loving a real person).

The documentary "Before Tomorrow" Episode 1 "Robot Companions" presents the important role that intelligent robots play for those in need. "They" assist men who are either emotionally hurt, have difficulties in intimate relationships, or simply feel more comfortable being with intelligent robots. The men also see "her" as their other half, gaining companionship and solace from "her," believing that this is the love they need.

This is the significance of virtual beings (including smart robots) for single individuals; it helps single individuals achieve a positive psychological experience and, in a sense, plays an indispensable role.

In the metaverse, there will inevitably be scenarios similar to those in the current real world, where the large single population will likely need the "function" of emotional companionship brought by virtual digital people.

I am increasingly able to understand your 'Ta'

This trend is rapidly developing, manifested in the fast growth of the market industry and the gradual intelligence evolution of virtual beings themselves.

• Rapid development of markets and industries

According to data from the Head Leopard Research Institute, the current market size of the virtual digital human market has exceeded 200 billion yuan. The Quantum Bit Think Tank predicts that by 2030, the overall market size of virtual digital humans in China will reach 270 billion yuan, meaning that an average of one virtual human is "born" globally every day. Additionally, according to Research And Markets, the global virtual events market size is expected to reach 504.76 billion USD (approximately 3,270.744 billion yuan) by 2028. Importantly, identity-based virtual humans will dominate future development.

What is an identity-based virtual digital person? It is a different type from functional service-based virtual digital people, possessing a unique personality and distinctive identity, with a glamorous appearance and boundless energy. Currently, it exists in a more basic form as virtual idols in the fields of entertainment, social interactions, and branding.

The current application scenarios of virtual digital humans are actually prepared for the metaverse, not just for the mobile internet. They will provide more and comprehensive services in the metaverse with three-dimensional images, such as companionship, emotional comfort, and even forming intimate relationships with people, similar to the scenes presented in the movie "Her."

• The "Evolution" Toward Increasing Intelligence

The first domestic emotional companion virtual human (with two characters) was officially launched by Baidu Input Method on August 17, 2022. One is a 22-year-old sunny, handsome, caring, and detail-oriented gentle boy named Lin Kaikai, and the other is a 27-year-old emotional listener and sweet-cool girl named Ye Youyou, who is refreshingly awake.

It is reported that the two virtual beings possess multi-turn fluent dialogue abilities close to that of real humans. They will provide 24-hour online companionship, personalized chatting, emotional healing, and other services through the AI KanKan feature of Baidu Input Method for over 600 million users. They will also offer exclusive wake-up calls, lullaby services, and friendship experiences, as well as meet users' emotional needs for chatting anytime and sharing personal thoughts.

Based on the Wenxin PLATO dialogue model, Baidu Input Method has also upgraded customized capabilities for Lin Kaikai and Ye Youyou, such as immersive companionship, long-term memory, and in-depth topics. As the frequency of chat interactions increases, they will understand you better, becoming more like close friends who are with you in the real world every day, talking to you about anything and everything, anytime and anywhere.

In the era of being single, who is using it? According to the introduction, Baidu Input Method currently has over 600 million monthly active users. During the testing period, it was reported that each person engages in more than 50 chats with AI daily, and over 86% of users publicly liked the conversation content.

The Significance of Virtual Beings in the Metaverse Era

The monthly active user base of 600 million people and the daily chat frequency per person represent a massive demand for emotional support and companionship. If the successful realization of the Metaverse, this virtual world, means that a large number of global users can enter the Metaverse anytime and anywhere, aside from functional activities like gaming and trading assets, they will also require the same emotional and companionship support during their ample free time, just like in the real world.

According to a forecast by market research firm Gartner, by 2026, 25% of the global population will spend at least one hour a day working, shopping, educating, socializing, or entertaining in the virtual world. In the real world, people need to raise cats and dogs, or have virtual idols from the two-dimensional world to provide companionship and obtain some emotional comfort. In the metaverse, as the time spent increases, people also need emotional companionship from virtual beings that are understanding like cats, dogs, or virtual idols, and the latter is evolving more towards the direction of real humans.

The movie "Artificial Intelligence" features an AI boy who fulfills the emotional needs of families suffering from the loss of a child.

In the face of this prospect, virtual humans seem poised to ignite a different spark in the future metaverse.

If we say that a person is the subject of the real universe, then a virtual digital person is the subject of the metaverse.

In the era of the metaverse, we will inevitably find it easier to obtain emotional companionship and warmth from virtual beings (which will become more intelligent in the future). On one hand, it will bring positive effects to those in need, such as providing support for families who have lost their only child, elderly people living alone, or those in need of emotional companionship. On the other hand, is its impact on interpersonal relationships and intimate relationships in real society positive and constructive? This is a question worth pondering.