The Rise of Synthetic Media & Digital Creators

Miko embodies the rise of “VTubers” (Virtual YouTubers), a catchall term for online creators who digitally obscure their faces and bodies. But more broadly, Miko embodies a nascent, but fascinating space: synthetic media.

Synthetic media allows brands to have lifelike digital mascots. Instead of an animated Ronald McDonald, customers could interact with a virtual recreation.  Digital characters will also populate stores: imagine a virtual person taking your order at a fast food drive-thru or answering your questions at the Apple Store. Artificial intelligence w... See more

From 2019 to 2020, deepfake videos grew 6,820x (!), from 14,678 videos to 100 million videos. They began to invade mainstream internet platforms. Tom Cruise, for example, isn’t on TikTok. But you’d be forgiven for thinking he is: the account @deeptomcruise posts (very convincing) deepfakes of Tom Cruise.

While synthetic media can amplify real people’s creativity at greater scale, it can also generate digitally-native creators. This was Trevor McFedries’ vision for Brud. McFedries was moved by how media can be a vehicle for social change: he points to research showing Will & Grace was largely responsible for public support of same-sex marriage. ... See more

In its Synthetic Media Landscape report, Samsung Next argues that synthetic media is the third evolutionary stage of media: 1.  The Past: Old Media. Enabled mass distribution for a select few through TV, radio, and print. Enabling Technology: Broadcasting. 2.  The Present: New Media. Enabled democratized distribution for everyone through ... See more