AI Sales Avatars Outperform Humans in China’s Livestream Market

In the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence (AI), concerns about job security among workers have escalated. Yet, some professions continue to remain insulated, such as sales, where the human touch – charm and communication skills – remains indispensable.

However, even this sector may be on the verge of a significant transformation. In China, AI-powered avatars are being extensively utilized for product sales during livestreams, as reported by WIRED.

These virtual entities are starting to outperform their human counterparts in sales performance. For instance, Japanese electronics firm Brother has incorporated virtual salespeople in China, a market where livestreams serve as an influential and effective platform for product sales. In just two hours of its debut, Brother’s AI avatar generated $2,500 in printer sales, marking a 30% improvement over traditional livestream sales.

The creators of these avatars are Shanghai-based marketing agency PLTFRM, who have deployed them on major ecommerce platforms like Taobao and Pinduoduo, where they promote a diverse range of products, from office devices to everyday consumer goods.