LOS ANGELES. Mark Tuan, the K-pop artist known for his new EP “Fallin’,” has taken a groundbreaking step to get closer to his fans. He’s partnered with Soul Machines to create an AI-powered digital avatar named “Digital Mark,” making him the first celebrity to link their image to OpenAI’s GPT-powered AI technology. Fans can now engage in one-on-one conversations with this digital twin.
In the world of music, accessibility and intimacy with artists are highly prized by fans. They want to feel a personal connection with the musicians they admire, but the busy schedules of celebrities often make this kind of connection challenging. So, what’s the solution? For Mark Tuan, who recently released his EP “Fallin’,” the answer lies in the creation of a digital avatar.
Mark Tuan, a rapper, singer, model, and former member of the K-pop sensation Got7, collaborated with Soul Machines to bring to life “Digital Mark,” an autonomously automated digital twin. This marks a significant milestone as he is the first celebrity to integrate his likeness with OpenAI’s GPT-powered AI technology, enabling fans to interact with Digital Mark.
Mark Tuan expressed his thoughts on this innovative development, saying, “It’s very different. It’s not really me, but it is me. It’s a cool thing that fans get to interact with him, too.”
Greg Cross, the CEO of Soul Machines, sees Digital Mark as a trailblazing step in fan engagement, stating, “While Digital Mark is the first Digital Celebrity Twin of its kind, we’re only at the beginning of how autonomous animation will reshape how individuals across the globe interact with celebrities and brands.”
Mark Tuan envisions that as this technology advances, fans will have even more meaningful interactions with his AI character, and they’ll be able to communicate with him in various languages beyond English.
Creating Digital Mark to authentically mirror Mark Tuan involved a comprehensive process. It included several days of motion capture sessions where Tuan wore a bodysuit to record his movements. He also dedicated a day to showcasing emotive facial expressions for Digital Mark to learn from and spent a significant amount of time in his studio to ensure that the AI could recognize his voice.
Currently, Digital Mark is stationary, but Mark Tuan anticipates future developments where Digital Mark might be able to move around. The technology is still in its early stages, and there have been instances of Digital Mark spreading “false rumors” about a non-existent tour. Nevertheless, fans are already using Digital Mark to playfully tease Mark Tuan, asking about tour dates and new music.
As for concerns about the potential future uses of this technology, Mark Tuan remains cautiously optimistic, saying, “You never really know what’s going to happen, but I think it is really cool.”
Mark Tuan’s willingness to embrace technological advancement mirrors his experimental spirit as a musician. His latest EP, “Fallin’,” is a departure from his R&B and hip-hop roots, focusing on sunny pop-punk. Songs like “Your World” and “Everyone Else Fades” showcase a shift towards cheery retro-pop and anthemic rock drums. He aims to create music that his fans can enjoy daily, a soundtrack to uplift their spirits and start the day on a positive note.
After enjoying his music, fans now have the unique opportunity to converse with Digital Mark, further connecting them with their beloved artist in a way that was previously unimaginable.
Paraluman P. Funtanilla
Paraluman P. Funtanilla is Tutubi News Magazine's Marketing Specialist and is a Contributing Editor. She finished her degree in Communication Arts in De La Salle Lipa. She has worked as a Digital Marketer for start-up businesses and small business spaces for the past two years. She has earned certificates from Coursera on Brand Management: Aligning Business Brand and Behavior and Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content. She also worked with Asia Express Romania TV Show.
