Core Insights - Shanda Group's Shanda AI Research Tokyo made its debut at SIGGRAPH Asia 2025, focusing on "Interactive Intelligence" and "Spatiotemporal Intelligence" in digital human research, reflecting the long-term vision of founder Chen Tianqiao [1][10] - The article discusses the systemic challenges leading to the "soul" deficiency in current digital human interactions, which is a significant barrier to user engagement despite substantial investments in visual effects [2][3] Systemic Challenges - **Long-term Memory and Personality Consistency**: Current large language models (LLMs) struggle with maintaining a stable personality over extended conversations, leading to "persona drift" and inconsistent narrative logic [3] - **Lack of Multimodal Emotional Expression**: Digital humans often exhibit "zombie-face" phenomena, lacking natural micro-expressions and emotional responses, which diminishes immersive experiences [3] - **Absence of Self-evolution Capability**: Most digital humans operate as passive systems, unable to learn from interactions or adapt to user preferences, hindering their evolution into truly intelligent entities [3] Industry Consensus - Experts at the SIGGRAPH Asia conference reached a consensus that the bottleneck in digital human development has shifted from visual fidelity to cognitive and interaction logic, emphasizing the need for long-term memory, multimodal emotional expression, and self-evolution as core competencies [13][10] Introduction of Mio - Shanda AI Tokyo Research introduced Mio (Multimodal Interactive Omni-Avatar), a framework designed to transform digital humans from passive entities into intelligent partners capable of autonomous thought and interaction [16][22] - Mio's architecture includes five core modules: Thinker (cognitive core), Talker (voice engine), Facial Animator, Body Animator, and Renderer, which work together to create a seamless interaction loop [20][21] Performance Metrics - Mio achieved an overall Interactive Intelligence Score (IIS) of 76.0, representing an 8.4 point improvement over previous technologies, setting a new performance benchmark in the industry [25][22] Future Outlook - The development of Mio signifies a paradigm shift in digital human technology, moving focus from static visual realism to dynamic, meaningful interactive intelligence, with potential applications in virtual companionship, interactive storytelling, and immersive gaming [22][25] - Shanda AI Tokyo Research has made the complete technical report, pre-trained models, and evaluation benchmarks of the Mio project publicly available to foster collaboration in advancing this field [28]

Core Insights - The consumer goods market is undergoing significant transformation driven by changing shopping habits, brand loyalty erosion, and a focus on health and sustainability [1][4][5] Consumer Sentiment - In the US, consumer confidence rose to 108.7 in October 2024, with 76% of consumers opting for cheaper alternatives while 42% plan to splurge on experiences [2][19] - European consumers are more cautious, with only 16% remaining loyal to specific brands, while 66% prioritize quality and 59% are influenced by price promotions [2][20][21] Key Consumer Trends - Health and wellness consumption is booming, with the global wellness market reaching $1.8 trillion, and 82% of American consumers prioritizing health in their daily lives [4][22][23] - Brand loyalty is declining, with 60% of US consumers and 53% of Europeans only purchasing branded products when on sale, and 38% not returning to brands after trying private labels [4][25][26] - Sustainability remains important, with 85% of consumers feeling climate change impacts, but affordability is becoming a priority, leading to a decline in willingness to pay a premium for sustainable products [5][28][30] Social Commerce and Direct-to-Consumer Models - Social commerce is rapidly growing, with US sales projected to reach $145 billion by 2027, driven by Gen Z and Millennials who are four times more likely to shop on social platforms [6][34] - Direct-to-consumer (D2C) strategies are increasingly adopted by brands to connect directly with consumers, allowing for better control over pricing and messaging [6][37][39] Marketing Strategies - Brands need to adopt micro-targeting and personalization strategies, leveraging AI and data analytics to create tailored consumer experiences [7][46] - Integrating wellness into product offerings and loyalty programs is essential to resonate with health-conscious consumers [7][54][57] Future Outlook - The consumer market is expected to evolve towards more immersive and emotionally connected experiences, with technology playing a key role in shaping consumer interactions [10][9]