How Will the Convergence of AI and VR Revolutionise the Entertainment Industry

Virtual reality and artificial intelligence are already impacting entertainment in various ways, and the developments over the last few years have been astounding. The amazing thing is that this is just the beginning. The two futuristic technologies will soon converge, and this will lead to incredible evolution in the entertainment industry.

Along with being able to generate digital avatars in everything from iGaming to television, the combination of VR and AI could lead to an increase in virtual performances. It may even lead to the resurrection of classic acts.

The Rise of Digital Avatars in Entertainment

The entertainment industry is set to expand exponentially over the next decade, and technology will bring about things that were never possible before. Brands have always strived to provide users with bespoke experiences, and AI is already helping with this. It has been seen with the Netflix and Spotify algorithms that make recommendations for users, and some websites are now gearing themselves towards personal preferences as well.

The convergence of AI and VR could take this to whole new levels, and different internet users may be able to access their own digital avatars in various forms of entertainment. Currently, the closest that people get to online hosts is in the online casino industry. For instance, in the roulette betting market there are countless live games all presented by real world dealers. These people run the games and welcome players, and there’s also the option to chat to them sometimes.

As more players join these sites, digital VR avatars could come in to allow the hosts to offer personal touches to each of the players. Using AI integration, these avatars could be designed to accommodate different players, which could lead to a more personalised online casino experience.

It doesn’t have to stop there either. No matter what form of entertainment someone is interested in, they could benefit from interacting with a digital avatar. Perhaps this VR entity could appear and guide users through television choices. They could also exist in chat rooms or game centres, giving users someone to play alongside or converse with. Because the AI will learn everything about individual users, it could lead to some deep connections between people and the digital avatars.

Virtual Performances and Replicating Legends

Along with providing hosts for individual users across the entertainment industry, digital avatars could be used in virtual performances. Today’s most famous musicians and comedians may soon be able to generate digital versions of themselves that could effectively be in many different places at once. This could lead to personalised performances in which small crowds receive their own unique shows.

It’s not out of the question, as AI could study a person and then that person’s likeness could be represented in VR. There have been various discussions about this idea as, of course, it would require the permission of the people involved and there would have to be careful measures in place to ensure that the AI version doesn’t overstep any boundaries. Some argue, however, that this technology has the potential to be ground-breaking and could give more people around the world the chance to witness their favourite performers in the virtual flesh.

Others have also discussed the possibility that legends who have passed away could be emulated in VR. AI has already been tested with a task to generate a finish to Beethoven’s last symphony, and it has provided modern listeners with some newly generated work in the style of the artist. This kind of technology potentially opens up a world of opportunities to imitate other iconic acts.

What Technology Will Exist Behind the Magic?

The everyday VR user doesn’t need to understand the intricacies of making this stuff happen, but there will be some pretty cool technological innovations at play in the background. To generate a sophisticated digital avatar, it will require a blend of machine learning algorithms, computer vision, and natural language processing.

Generative adversarial networks, otherwise known as GANs, will play a huge role too. These are used to create realistic images and animations of digital humans, enabling them to mimic the detailed movements and expressions of real people. This technology is complemented by advances in VR, which provide the immersive environments necessary for virtual performances to thrive.

In addition to visual realism, AI plays a crucial role in enabling virtual avatars to understand and respond to human speech and emotions in real-time. This makes interactions with them more natural and engaging as they can give off the effect that you are talking to a real person. This interactivity is vital for virtual performances, where audience engagement can significantly enhance the experience. It’s also important in situations that will require digital hosts, as the people who use them may have plenty of questions.

The Future of Entertainment

There’s still a lot that is unknown about the future of entertainment, but it would be wise to expect some interesting advances ever over the next decade. The various offshoots of entertainment have always been ripe for evolution, and technology has always found a place. There’s no doubt that developers will be working hard to incorporate VR and AI, and this will lead to new branches of entertainment as well as updates to existing ones.

A lot of predictions about AI suggest that it will lead to more bespoke experiences, and there’s a chance that people will soon enjoy personalised television shows and films. The only way that this would be possible is if famous actors allowed their likenesses to be replicated and then used in a range of offerings with the help of AI. This idea has already been presented in the latest series of Black Mirror, and it’s another thing that the prescient series may end up successfully predicting.

The fusion of AI and VR in creating digital avatars and virtual performances represents a significant shift in the entertainment landscape. As these technologies continue to evolve, they will unlock new possibilities for storytelling, artistic expression, and audience engagement. These are truly exciting times for the entertainment industry.

This article does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors or management of EconoTimes.