Consumers first got a glimpse of Krafton Inc’s first virtual human, ANA, created with deep learning technology, back in June. While ANA was first shown to the public in June, the company also released a tech demo in February showcasing a virtual human capable of expressing emotions.
Now the game company has unveiled more details about ANA, setting her up with her own YouTube channel and an Instagram account.
Krafton Inc is a collective of the following indie game studios: PUBG Studio, Bluehole Studio, Striking Distance Studios, RisingWings, and Dreamotion. Its goal is to create innovative, immersive gaming experiences. Krafton is responsible for titles such as The Callisto Protocol, PUBG: NEW STATE and ELYON.
Currently, ANA’s YouTube channel includes a twenty-two-second video entitled Hello World! It’s me, ANA!, which shows the hyper-realistic virtual human dunking her hands in a sink, looking out a window and sneezing. In addition to the short upload, the account also lists ANA’s email and a link to her Instagram. ANA’s Instagram account showcases nine posts that together create a full-body photo of the virtual human.
According to Krafton, ANA is a virtual influencer who enjoys dancing, gaming, fashion and music. Her goal is to spread joy through music and other forms of entertainment and she will soon be working on her own song and accompanying music video.
Krafton also states that ANA’s green crystal ring allows her to teleport to various locations and interact with the world around her. She also carries a “FIZZ” bubble gun which lets her elevate the mood of those around her.
The rise of the virtual human
Krafton is far from the only company working to create virtual humans. DeepBrain AI successfully created an AI version of Yoon Suk-yeol. In January, unity acquired Ziva Dynamics, a powerful tool for creating realistic virtual humans. Likewise, Arcturus raised $5 million for holographic humans in May of last year.
Jack Brassell is a freelance journalist and aspiring novelist. Jack is a self-proclaimed nerd with a lifelong passion for storytelling. As an author, Jack writes mostly horror and young adult fantasy. Also an avid gamer, she works as the lead news editor at Hardcore Droid. When she isn't writing or playing games, she can often be found binge-watching Parks & Rec or The Office, proudly considering herself to be a cross between Leslie Knope and Pam Beasley.
