The Rise of Virtual Humans — and What They Mean for the Future | Sara Giusto | TED

翻译人员: Alvin Lee 校对人员: Manlin Fang

Hi everyone.

大家好。

I’m Sara, and I’m a talent manager.

我叫萨拉，我是一名艺人经纪人。

Who do I manage?

我的艺人是谁呢？

A girl named imma.

是一个叫伊玛的女孩。

She's a fashionista that lives in Tokyo.

她生活在东京，是一名时尚博主。

She posts about her life and her outfits

她在 Instagram，TikTok 和 X

on social media platforms like Instagram,

等社交平台上

TikTok and X.

分享自己的生活和穿搭。

She has a younger brother named Zinn

她还有个弟弟，叫齐恩，

that she always gets in a fight with,

他俩老是打架，

a little dog named Einstein that she takes for walks.

还有一只小狗叫爱因斯坦， 她经常遛它。

Her favorite food is yakitori,

她最爱的食物是烧鸟，

and she sits first row at fashion shows and dances to TikTok videos.

她经常出现在时尚秀的前排， 或者跟着 TikTok 短视频跳舞。

Yep, just a normal girl online.

对，就是网上一个普通女孩子。

Except she doesn't exist.

但其实她并不存在。

She’s a virtual human, made from CGI, born in 2017.

她是一名电脑生成的虚拟人， 诞生于 2017 年。

In other words,

换句话说，

she's a fictional character made from 3D softwares,

她是一名由三维软件 生成的虚拟角色，

a unique blend of softwares like Maya

由玛雅、虚幻引擎和其他软件

and Unreal Engine and a bit more.

共同协作生成。

She's not a mimic or copy of anyone that's existing in real life.

她并不是现实中某人的 模拟或者复制品。

She's a complete original character.

她是一名完全原创的角色。

These are some of her Instagram posts.

这是她在 Instagram 上的一些推文。

中间那张是她在虚拟状态下刷牙。

The middle one is her brushing her teeth when she's virtual.

The other one says hashtag

另一张带着话题，

"I think I'm CGI, but these dogs are real."

“我觉得我是电脑生成的， 但这些狗狗是真的。”

This one goes, "I cut half my bangs off.

这一张写着， “我的刘海剪掉了一半。

Is it going to grow back even though I'm virtual?"

虽然我是虚拟的， 它还会长回来吗？”

These are some of her other TikTok videos.

这里还有一些 她发在 TikTok 上的短视频。

Oh, and that brother that she has.

哦，还有她弟弟。

Yep, you guessed it.

你们应该猜到了。

He's not real either.

他也不是真实的。

I wish he was though.

虽然我挺希望他是真的。

(Laughter)

（笑声）

We manage him and dozens of other virtual humans around the world.

我们在世界各地管理着 他和其他几十名虚拟人类。

And in the near future, we’re integrating them with AI

在不久的将来， 我们会将他们和人工智能整合，

so that they become autonomous virtual humans

他们就能成为自主的虚拟人类，

that you can have a conversation with.

你可以跟他们自由交谈。

This is a little demo video.

这里有一个小小的展示视频。

(Video) imma: Nice to meet you, John.

（视频）伊玛：见到你很高兴，约翰。

Feel free to ask me anything.

你可以问我任何事情。

John: Nice to meet you too.

约翰：我也很高兴见到你。

How are you?

你还好吗？

imma: Nice to meet you.

伊玛：你好。

I'm feeling good today.

我今天心情不错。

How about you?

你呢？

John: How does it actually feel to be fused with AI?

约翰：你接入 AI 后， 实际感觉如何呢？

Sara Giusto: Yes, they exist in the virtual world,

萨拉·朱斯托：没错， 他们存在于虚拟世界，

but these virtual humans have an impact in our real world too.

但这些虚拟人类 也会对真实世界产生影响。

imma has repeatedly shared her opinions on real-world issues,

伊玛一直在分享 她对真实世界议题的看法，

including climate change and Black Lives Matter.

包括气候变化和黑人人权问题。

She initiated a community get-together in the virtual world during COVID

在新冠疫情期间， 她在虚拟世界创立了互助社群，

for people who were feeling lonely and isolated.

帮助那些感觉孤独和被孤立的人们。

She also shares about her Japanese culture

她还向全球的关注者们

and subculture to her global audience.

分享自己的日本文化和亚文化。

For these actions,

因为这些举动，

she was actually chosen

她被选为了

as one of the Forbes Woman of the Year --

福布斯年度女性之一——

(Laughter)

（笑声）

Right beside the likes of climate change activist Greta Thunberg

同她并列的还有 气候变化活动家格蕾塔·通贝里，

and former US First Lady Michelle Obama.

和美国前第一夫人 米歇尔·奥巴马等人。

She’s also been featured in Tokyo 2020 Paralympics,

她还出现在东京 2020 年残奥会

in the closing ceremony,

闭幕式上，

and has been awarded an award from the Government of Japan

她还因为前往柬埔寨

for her actions in going to Cambodia

呼吁关注家庭暴力问题

and voicing about its domestic violence issues.

而受到日本政府嘉奖。

She's also in real campaigns.

她还出现在很多现实中活动里，

She's worked with brands from Amazon, Porsche, BMW,

她跟很多品牌有合作， 比如亚马逊、保时捷、宝马、

skincare brand SK-II,

护肤品牌 SK-II、

IKEA and more.

宜家等等。

Right now, you can actually see an ad of her all over the world

现在，你可以在世界各地看到 她与蔻驰合作的广告，

with her campaign with Coach, right beside co-star Lil Nas X.

She's also in real magazines, on the covers,

她也出现在杂志封面上，

from Harper's Bazaar, Voce and Wonderland.

比如时尚芭莎、 VoCE 和 Wonderland。

Yes, she doesn't technically exist,

没错，她事实上并不存在，

but the younger generation of Gen Z don't care.

但年轻的千禧一代并不在乎。

Gen Zs love her because they feel a real connection to her.

他们爱她是因为 感受到和她有真实的连接。

For them, there's not much of a difference

对他们来说， 一个在 Instagram 上发帖，

between someone that is real-life, breathing

在现实中活生生的人，

that's doing Instagram

和像伊玛一样的虚拟人之间，

and a virtual human like imma.

并没有多大区别。

For example, I know a lot of Gen Zs love Kylie Jenner,

比如，我知道很多千禧一代 喜欢凯莉·詹纳，

and even if they've never met her before,

即使他们从没见过她本人，

they feel like they know everything about her.

但他们觉得自己了解她的一切。

From where she takes her family to vacation,

从她会带自己家人去哪里度假，

her aspirations

到她的志向，

and to even what she eats for breakfast.

甚至她早饭吃的什么。

Why?

为什么呢？

Because she posts these things online,

因为她会把这些事发在网上，

and people feel a real connection to her.

于是人们觉得与她有真实的连接。

Same thing with imma.

伊玛也是一样的。

She posts about her life online,

她把自己的生活发在网上，

and people feel a real connection.

人们就能感受到真实的连接。

She posts an outfit picture,

她发一张穿搭的照片，

and people would ask, "Where is that dress from?"

人们就会问，“这裙子哪里买的？”

She gets a lot of questions about her perfectly cut bob hair, too.

也有很多人问她完美的波波头。

People want to know who's the famous hairstylist

他们想知道是哪个有名的发型师，

that's keeping it perfectly cut.

能把她的头发剪得如此完美。

He or she doesn't exist because the hair is not real.

并没有这么一个发型师存在， 因为她的头发不是真的。

Like this, people love interacting with her,

就像这样，人们喜欢跟她互动，

sharing about their life to her

会与她分享他们的生活，

and even giving her real-life advice when she needs it.

甚至在她需要的时候， 给她真实的人生建议。

And I mean, I think we've all caught up by now,

我的意思是， 我觉得我们已经明白了，

scrolling through Instagram, TikTok or a live.

当我们刷着 Instagram， TikTok 或者直播的时候。

What's really real in the virtual world anyways?

在虚拟世界里， 到底什么才是真实的呢？

Now does all of this scare any of you?

这些有没有吓到你们？

Maybe it does.

也许吧。

But I promise,

但是我保证，

I'm not a scary AI evil virtual human scientist.

我并不是什么可怕的人工智能 恶魔虚拟人类科学家。

I'm actually quite the opposite.

事实上正相反。

I'm a human lover.

我爱人类。

And I truly believe that this virtual human technology

我坚信虚拟人类技术

will better our world

会让世界更美好，

and make the treasures that we have as humans --

会让我们作为人类的美德——

our love, our connection and our self-expressions -- way better.

我们的爱，我们的连接， 我们的自我表达——都更美好。

Before all of this, I used to be an artist.

在这份工作前，我曾是一名艺术家。

I still am at heart.

我的内心依然是。

But like most artists, all my life,

但就像大多数艺术家一样， 终其一生，

I've been searching for something beautiful and meaningful.

我都在寻找 某种美丽而有意义的事物。

I felt like I found it, the beautiful and meaningful,

我觉得我找到了， 美丽而充满意义的事物，

in imma when I first laid eyes on her.

就在我第一眼看见伊玛的时候。

Well, actually, not going to lie,

当然，实话实说，

when I first first saw her, I was like, what the heck is this?

第一眼看到她， 我想的是，这是个什么东西？

But the more I thought about it

但后来我仔细思考了一下，

and thought about the real connections

关于人们和此种技术之间的、

that people were having with this piece of technology,

真实的连接，

I was amazed.

我深感惊讶。

I thought it was revolutionary because all my life,

我认为它是革命性的，

因为长此以来，技术对我而言 只是某种有用的东西，

technology to me has been something useful,

我每天都会用的东西，

something I use every day,

but it was never personal to me.

但它和我没有私人连接。

For example, I would ask Siri, what's the weather like?

比如，我会问 Siri， 天气怎么样？

And it would say, “It’s 11 Celsius today.”

它会说，“今天气温是 11 摄氏度。”

And that was it.

仅此而已。

I didn't really have a connection or relationship with it.

我跟它并没有某种连接或者关系。

But humans are innately emotional creatures,

但人类天生是一种情绪的动物，

and our world moves with what moves our hearts.

世界因为我们内心的感动而变化。

So what if we can get that same feeling from technology?

所以假如我们可以从技术那里 得到同样的感受呢？

What if we can create relationships

假如我们可以和虚拟人类建立

like we do with friends, family, coworkers

像对待朋友、 家人、同事那样的关系，

and even with our alternative selves through virtual humans?

甚至是与另一个自我 建立关系，会怎么样呢？

What if we can have a positive impact in different industries from medical,

假如我们可以 对不同的领域产生正面影响，

educational and entertainment --

比如医药、教育、娱乐——

all leveraging on the deep connection between humans and technology?

在人类和技术间施加深远影响呢？

imma is the first example of so much more to come.

伊玛只是第一个，未来还会有更多。

If there was a book of virtual human history,

如果有一本关于 虚拟人类的历史书的话，

we're barely on page one.

我们仅仅在书的第一页上。

And who's better to tell you all of that than Imma herself?

那么谁更适合 来述说这一切呢？当然是伊玛！

We're going to be joining with her live from Tokyo.

接下来我们将与身在东京的她连线。

Hi, imma.

嗨，伊玛。

imma: Hello, hi, Sara.

伊玛：你好，萨拉。

SG: Hi, imma.

萨拉·朱斯托：嗨，伊玛。

imma: And hi, everyone.

伊玛：大家好。

Wow, look at the audience.

哇哦，现场好多人啊。

Being the TED stage,

来到 TED 的舞台，

I can't believe it.

真难以置信。

I have to pinch myself.

我不是在做梦吧，让我掐一下自己。

Oh, wait, I can't, I am virtual.

哦，等一下， 我掐不了，我是虚拟人。

(Laughter)

（笑声）

Well, sometimes we all forget, right?

有时候我们意识不到 这一点，不是吗？

Anyways, my name is imma, and it’s a pleasure to meet you all.

好，我叫伊玛， 很高兴见到大家。

I'm joining you all the way from Japan.

我在日本加入你们的活动。

Konnichiwa.

你好。

SG: Konnichiwa.

萨拉·朱斯托：你好。

How’s the weather like in Tokyo today?

东京今天什么天气啊？

imma: Well, I think it rained a little bit this morning, but it’s quite sunny,

伊玛：我记得早上好像下了点雨， 现在出太阳了，

and you should get ready for the summer when you get there, Sara.

你要是过来的话， 记得做好防晒，萨拉。

SG: Nice.

萨拉·朱斯托：太好了。

Vancouver is ...

温哥华可太……

It's beautiful here.

这里很美。

I can see the ocean, the mountains.

有大海，也有高山。

And I think it's around 11 Celsius right now.

但我感觉现在只有 11 摄氏度。

imma: Wow, sounds freezing.

伊玛：哇哦，感觉好冷。

Well, anyways, even though I'm in Tokyo right now,

不说这些了，尽管现在我在东京，

I can technically go anywhere, so a special invite.

但我可以去任何地方， 所以我想发出一个特别的邀请。

I love making friends.

我喜欢交朋友。

If you feel like connecting,

如果你想联系我，

I’ll wait for your DMs, or whatever.

你可以直接私信我， 或者别的方式也行，

Just don't send anything weird, OK?

但别发些奇奇怪怪的东西，好吗？

Was that good, Sara?

你觉得怎么样，萨拉？

SG: That was great, thanks for popping by.

萨拉·朱斯托：非常棒， 谢谢你跟我们连线。

And say bye to the audience for us.

跟大家说再见。

imma: Bye. Good luck, Sara.

伊玛：再见。祝你好运，萨拉。

SG: Thank you, imma.

萨拉·朱斯托：谢谢你伊玛。

So that was imma.

这就是伊玛。

(Applause)

（掌声）

How I want to conclude is,

总结来说，

we shouldn't get caught up in the topic of what's real

我们不应该纠结于哪些是真实，

and what's not real,

哪些不是，

because, I mean, what's really real, anyways?

因为说到底，什么是真正的真实呢？

We should get away from the dystopian narrative

我们应该摆脱那种

of the virtual world that we have

虚拟世界的反乌托邦叙事，

and seize possibilities for human connection

抓住人类连接和人类表达

and possibilities for human expression.

的可能性。

Because human possibility is the same as technology:

因为人类的可能性和技术一样，

it’s limitless.

是无限的。

Thank you

谢谢大家。

(Applause)

（掌声）