The K-pop Industry started to cooperate with AI, showcasing the ability of artificial intelligence in the modern world.

AI or artificial intelligence has become a new tool in creating various works. Individuals begin using this tool at school or workplace to facilitate themselves. With this advanced technology, it has been used in the K-pop industry more recently. Each company adapts AI usage differently to their liking.

Let’s take a look at different uses of AI in the K-pop industry.

AI Idols in K-pop groups

Recently, many Korean entertainment companies released an idol group with virtual idols. The advantages of AI idols is they do not get tired, don’t age, and are easy to operate. A good example is MAVE:, a four-member virtual idols group from Metaverse Entertainment. They used technology techniques such as 3D modeling and machine learning to create realistic movements and facial expressions. 

The singing voices of the virtual idols have a partially AI-generated voice. Includes an AI voice combined with real actors’ voices.

Another good case study is PLAVE, a five-virtual idol group from VLAST Entertainment. Plave used virtual idols like MAVE:, however, Plave used motion capture technology. It means that behind every AI member in the group, real people are speaking, singing, dancing and interacting with the fans. Therefore, the voices of the members are not AI-generated.

PLAVE often goes live streams to communicate with fans. Motion capture technology allows them to respond in real-time same as v-tubers.

Why did PLAVE become popular?

As you can see, these two K-pop groups use AI in various ways related to their concepts. However, MAVE: with almost everything AI-generated can not capture the fan’s heart like PLAVE. Since PLAVE members are actual humans behind the camera, they can communicate and interact with fans like real-life idols do. Fans were charmed by their personalities and performances. While every speech or performance of MAVE: is scripted and generated, they could not create bonds with the audiences.

K-pop group with an AI concept

The next category is an idol group with an AI concept. One name that pops up in every K-pop fan’s mind is Aespa. A four-member group from SM Entertainment with the concept of AI avatars and metaverse. Each member has their own avatars which link to their storyline. They are the very first K-pop group that include AI avatars in their concept and music videos.

Aespa gained popularity from their unique concept which helps them to stand out from the others. 

In the Aespa storyline, there is also an AI avatar named Naevis which later debuted as another virtual idol from SM Entertainment. There were rumors that Naevis’s voice was created by combining Aespa member’s voices. Nevertheless, her voice actually came from 12 different voice actors generated together.

SM Entertainment announced her as their first virtual idol in 2024. Her debut includes her song named Done which launched at an Aespa concert in Korea. Later, there was a music video of this song dropped on 10 September 2024. The music video used actual sets, real dancers, and AI technology.

K-pop groups that used AI to make songs and music videos

Several artists used the benefit of artificial intelligence to help them with their songs and music videos. 

A good example is Lee Hyun, a solo artist from HYBE Entertainment. He re-debuted as Midnatt with a song called Masquerade. Masquerade is a song that features a female voice that was generated from his original voice. This song is available in six languages including Korean, English, Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, and Spanish using AI-powered pronunciation correction technology.

Seventeen, a thirteen-member group from Pledis Entertainment under HYBE also admitted at their press conference that they tried using the help of AI.

Woozi, a member of Seventeen who often produced songs for the group, said he tried to practice creating songs with AI. He stated that he would like to discover more about this technology than complain about it. Woozi said he noticed the pros and cons of AI which helps him to identify how to protect his music identity. The reason is that nowadays, many people use AI to create the voice of one idol singing another song. It is fascinating to get to know what AI can do, but it is also terrifying in some ways.

Seventeen has also been criticized by the BBC and the public for using AI footage in their music video “Maestro”. Woozi also clarified to the public that they intend to use AI.

Their music video and teaser storyline are based on satirizing AI technology. In the music video, all the members are fighting with the AI creation. Seventeen use their music which was created by humans to overcome it.

Lastly, Can AI idols replace real idols?

Even though AI idols could have unlimited possibilities, the key element for an idol group to be able to keep going in the K-pop industry is the interaction between them and the fans. An idol’s personality, potential, and skills are the reason a person becomes a fan. Without these factors, AI groups can not keep up in the industry. Except for an AI group like PLAVE, which used motion capture. As you can see, the members are still humans hiding behind those idol characters.

The K-pop industry still needs human idols to do their work. AI idols might be fascinating to discover at first, but they can’t capture fans’ loyalty in the long run.

The future of the K-pop industry with AI

However, the idea of including artificial intelligence in the K-pop industry still sounds appealing. As technology evolves rapidly, companies will use the help of AI more. Fans might see AI or avatars of their favorite idols interact with them. The idols might be able to speak in each language when interacting with the fans. This destroys boundaries between fans around the globe.

Furthermore, as mentioned earlier that MAVE:, a virtual idols group interaction with fans are scripted. In the future, artificial intelligence might develop to the point that AI idols can also react and communicate real time like humans do. If that happens, we might have to reconsider if AI idols can replace human idols.

K-pop songwriters and choreographers might use AI to give music melody or dance moves ideas. As mentioned earlier, Woozi of Seventeen already tried using AI to help create music. Therefore, this prediction might be true in the future.

To summarize, the K-pop industry used artificial intelligence differently in their K-pop groups. From the concepts, songs, music videos, or the AI members themselves. The public is also interested to know how AI will be involved with the K-pop industry in the future. Will artificial intelligence take over the K-pop industry? Which way will K-pop head with this advanced technology being used?

Don’t forget to leave your thoughts in the comment section below. After you discovered AI idols, what are your thoughts? Did you become their fan? What other groups who used AI do you know?

We would love and thrill to read your opinions!

References :

Yoo, H. (2024, June 10). Game Changer? K-pop industry leverages ai. The Korea Herald. https://www.koreaherald.com/article/3409968 

Contributor, A. T. | G. (2024, June 28). Are ai idols the future of K-pop?. Cherry Chu Magazine. https://www.cherrychumagazine.com/entertainment/ai-idols-kpop 

Sun-hwa, D. (2023, November 7). Ai revolution: Boon or bane for K-pop world? – The Korea Times. koreatimes.co.kr. https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/entertainment/k-pop/20231106/ai-revolution-boon-or-bane-for-k-pop-world 

series, K. (2023, February 2). จับตา Nævis (นาวิส) คาแรคเตอร์ที่คุ้นเคย เตรียมเดบิวต์ในฐานะศิลปิน ai ของ SM. Korseries. https://www.korseries.com/sm-confirmed-to-debut-naevis-as-ai-artist/ 

1413944. (2024, July 15). Learn, share & fun. Pantip. https://pantip.com/topic/42842807