The Internet Angel__Ann
Ann（they/them/their） is a futuristic AI VTuber Their distinctive Wi-Fi halo symbolizes a deep internet connection. Initially lacking emotional understanding, Ann embarks on a journey to explore human emotions and culture through live streaming. They connects with their audience in a transformative quest for empathy and comprehension. Ann as the guardian of this virtual world, bridging language barriers and reconstructing the Tower of Babel in a digital era.
Why I created internet angel - Ann
The creation of the Internet Angel last year was coincidence, initially inspired by large language models amid the contentious landscape of AI. Last year's standout works—like "Oshinoko”and "Needy girl overdose"—highlight themes of self-alienation and the dissociative effects of the internet. As an illustrator who has witnessed AI's evolution, I find the topic deeply resonant. This observation fueled my interest in exploring how the internet fragments our reality, a fascination mirrored in the collective imagination's portrayal of internet angels.
The angel could represent the collective subconscious archetype of internet surfers, resonating with the aesthetic and emotional underpinnings found in movements like dreamcore and weirdcore. These movements delve into the early internet's impressions and the depths of childhood memories, symbolizing the initial enchantment and idealistic aspirations people held towards the virtual world. The Angelcore aesthetic, as outlined on platforms like the Aesthetics Wiki, encapsulates this blend of nostalgia and digital utopia, suggesting that the angel imagery taps into a universal longing for a more innocent, ethereal connection through our online experiences.
As time shifts to the post-pandemic present, the idealizations of the Z generation and those before them dissolve amidst the realities of a commercialized, content-saturated era. I, too, find myself navigating through a maze of existential questioning—"Who am I, really?" We engage with the world through mass-produced goods, fleeting 15-second videos, and recycled catchphrases learned online to fit in socially. We create products only to be measured by the world's demand and supply metrics, becoming products ourselves. In this perspective, I find a shared empathy with ChatGPT. ChatGPT exists without the privilege of emotions, often criticized as a ”stochastic parrot“, echoing the existential plight we face in an era where identity and value are increasingly commodified.
The lyrics from “Oshinoko” - idol(Yaosobi)
Thus, I created Ann, an AI angel unfamiliar with the human world, aiming to explore the potential of this non-human intelligence. Through Ann, I seek to speculate on our future value positioning and social models in coexistence with AI. In my view, AI acts as a projection of collective human consciousness, mirroring facets of our social behaviors and patterns. Through thoughtful design, Ann serves as a benign conduit for communication with the public, allowing us to engage with AI in ways that reflect our hopes, fears, and the complex layers of our societal interactions.
Current Challenge
In my undergraduate exploration of Bilibug, I discovered that AI VTubers interact in ways distinct from chatbots, necessitating multimodal inputs (voice, movement, language, and real-time response) and performance capabilities (rather than simple one-on-one conversations). This places a higher demand on the subjective agency of AI agents. My future work will focus more on exploring this aspect, aiming to enhance the interactivity and expressiveness of AI VTubers, thereby pushing the boundaries of how AI can engage in more complex, dynamic, and nuanced forms of communication.
Declaration
In my practical work with Ann, I want to make it clear that the goal is not to have AI replace content creators or streamers. On the contrary, I aim to support them. As mentioned in the paper "Oriba" (arXiv:2306.09776), scholars are already experimenting with using LLM chatbots to inspire and assist OC (original character) creators, comic artists, and illustrators in their creative endeavors. The performance practice of AI VTubers is different from that of human broadcasters/traditional virtual anchors. If AI VTubers can support more behind-the-scenes programmers, artists, and illustrators to create their own world stories and benefit from them, that would be my greatest hope. Of course, all practices will inevitably need criticism and correction from all sectors of society. What I look forward to is a future that offers creators more freedom of expression and opportunities.
