In a groundbreaking moment for the AI and e-commerce world, two digital avatars in China just proved that virtual influencers might be better sellers than their human counterparts. And the numbers don’t lie: a livestream hosted by AI-generated versions of two popular Chinese personalities pulled in a staggering 55 million yuan ($7.65 million) in just over seven hours.
Welcome to the future of livestreaming — where your favorite influencer might just be a virtual clone.
The Rise of the AI Influencer
The event took place on Baidu’s e-commerce livestreaming platform, Youxuan, where legendary livestreamer Luo Yonghao and his co-host Xiao Mu used AI-generated avatars of themselves to run an interactive, six-hour-long session. The result? More sales than their previous human-hosted attempt — despite Luo’s massive real-life following.
In fact, Luo’s earlier livestream on the same platform just a month prior (hosted by him in person) didn’t come close to this level of engagement or sales.
“This is a DeepSeek moment for China’s entire livestreaming and digital human industry,” one analyst remarked — referencing the significance of this leap, akin to the rise of transformer-based language models in AI.
How Did the AI Pull It Off?
Baidu used its generative AI model to create digital avatars that could mimic Luo and Xiao’s personalities, humor, and speech style. The system was trained on over five years of video footage, enabling it to replicate their banter and charisma with uncanny accuracy.
These avatars weren’t passive holograms. They responded in real-time, cracked jokes, and kept the audience engaged — just like the real Luo and Xiao would. Except this time, they didn’t get tired, didn’t need breaks, and never misspoke.
“I’m a bit dazed,” Luo confessed to his 1.7 million Weibo followers. “The digital human effect has scared me.”
Why This Matters: More Than a Gimmick
This isn't just a flashy tech demo. It’s a paradigm shift.
- Cost-Effective Scalability: Brands no longer need to rely on the physical availability of influencers.
- Consistency in Branding: AI avatars can be trained to maintain brand tone, mood, and accuracy — every time.
- 24/7 Operation: AI doesn’t sleep. That means longer, more frequent campaigns, even across multiple time zones.
And for creators like Luo, this opens doors to replicating their presence without burning out — especially critical for someone who turned to livestreaming in 2020 to pay off debts from his previous tech venture, Smartisan.
China Leads the Charge in AI Commerce
China has long been at the forefront of combining AI, e-commerce, and entertainment. With apps like Douyin (China’s TikTok) leading the short-form video revolution, the country’s tech giants are now pushing boundaries in AI-generated content. Luo’s “Be Friends” Douyin account alone boasts over 24.7 million followers, proving the power of personality-driven commerce.
Now, imagine scaling that personality infinitely using AI.
What’s Next?
The implications of this AI-avatar milestone are massive:
- Will influencer marketing shift from flesh to code?
- Can AI entertainers dominate live shopping events?
- How will this affect trust, regulation, and audience authenticity?
The answers may unfold faster than expected. As AI avatars continue to evolve and outperform their creators, we may be heading into an era where being human is no longer a requirement for influence.
Luo Yonghao may have started livestreaming to clear personal debt, but with AI avatars now breaking his own records — he might’ve just opened the floodgates to a new digital gold rush.
If you're an influencer, brand, or tech entrepreneur, one thing's clear: Your next top performer might not need a coffee break… or a heartbeat.