Artificial intelligence or AI is sneaking in everywhere! It is the brainy buddy behind chatbots, selfie filters, and even self-driving cars. From analysing data to making suggestions, AI is our high-tech sidekick, helping industries do the robot dance of efficiency. Now, the metaverse has been taken it a bit too far. Not only is AI taking over our jobs, but also celebrities! This entire tech tango has led to the creation of virtual characters that become superstars in no time. One such virtual superstar from India is Naina Avtr, who was recently spotted at the Mumbai airport. Are you wondering if she’s even real? We’ve got some answers for you!
What are virtual superstars?
Virtual superstars are computer-generated or AI-driven characters that have gained popularity and a fanbase similar to real-life celebrities. These digital personas often have unique personalities, appearances, and even backstories. They can appear in music videos, social media, live streams, and other digital content, blurring the lines between fiction and reality. Virtual superstars showcase the potential of AI and technology to create engaging entertainment experiences and interact with audiences in new and innovative ways.
Who is Naina Avtr?
In 2022, Avtr Meta Labs (AML), a team of AI professionals, created Naina Avtr, a virtual influencer. She poses as a fashion model from Mumbai, India, and has over 131K Instagram followers. Naina, a 20-year-old Digital Avatar, is a small-town girl hailing from Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh. She has recently shifted to Mumbai, and when asked about it, she said, “Like many other girls of my age group, I have come to Mumbai to fulfill my dreams of becoming a successful actor. I invite you all to follow me on Instagram and YouTube, become a part of my life journey, and share my experiences. I have just come to Mumbai, and I will need all the help I can get, and I am counting on you all.”
Abhishek Razdan, the co-founder and CEO of Avtr Meta Labs said, “With the launch of our first Digital Avatar, Naina, we are giving marketers and advertisers an entirely new playfield. A lot of research and diligence has gone into the creation of Naina, and I am confident that audiences and marketers alike will enjoy Naina’s journey in the days to come.”
Is Naina Avtr A Real Person?
After being spotted at the airport, Naina Avtr was also seen at the screening of Mission Impossible. Several paparazzi outlets posted videos of her exiting the theatre. This raised the question of whether Naina is a real human or a robot. If you look at the star’s Instagram highlighted stories, you’ll see that she only shows her hands and never her face. Because, while Naina is a genuine person, the AI team does not want to portray her as such.
All of Naina’s pictures on Instagram are morphed and edited by the AI. Even when she is spotted in public, paparazzi videos are modified before being uploaded on the internet. This means that the world has never seen her true face. Despite her real appearance and persona, she exhibits certain virtual characteristics. Certain discrepancies, such as jerky motions and repeated clothing in numerous pictures, point to her being a synthetic fabrication rather than a genuine person. This insight gets us one step closer to understanding the complex interaction of reality and virtuality in the case of Naina Avtr.
While Naina and the AI team are doing their best to keep her identity hidden, an old picture on Naina’s Instagram gives us a glimpse of her real face. Check it out:
AI is definitely taking over the world, and while it may seem like a scary change, we as a society have no choice but to adhere to it. We wonder what more the tech world will startle us with!
Feature Image: Instagram
