In This Article
Digital avatars have become the cornerstone of identity and interaction in the metaverse. As the virtual environment evolves, these copies of real people are also changing, moving from simple designs to highly realistic, customizable, and dynamic characters.
From pixels to DNA avatars: how Holiverse has changed the concept of virtual reality
The concept of avatars began with simple pixelated images in early video games and online forums. As 3D graphics, AI, and metaverse technologies started to advance, it became possible to create avatars capable of realistic movement, expression, and interaction.
Synthesia
Founded in 2017, British startup Synthesia offers over 160 ready-made avatars that can speak 130 languages. Their services are used by companies such as Xerox, Zoom, and Heineken. In 2023, Synthesia attracted $90 million in funding, including Nvidia investments, that raised the company value to $1 billion. The company has experienced significant user growth, by 456% in 2023 compared to the previous year.
Vidyard
Founded in 2010, Canadian company Vidyard specializes in creating sales and marketing videos. In 2024, the service introduced the ability to generate videos with AI avatars, offering users the opportunity to create personal, ultra-realistic avatars. To do this, you need to record a two-minute video, based on which the AI learns and creates an avatar.
DIGEN
DIGEN is an innovative platform that uses advanced artificial intelligence to create realistic digital avatars and compelling videos. The platform offers a wide range of real-life scenes and avatars that can accurately imitate human gestures, lip synchronization and voice timbre. DIGEN provides various video templates for business, social media, education and personal use, simplifying the video creation process.
Holiverse
A world where everyone can manage their health and well-being with a personalized digital tool is becoming a reality thanks to Holiverse. The company, combining blockchain technology, the metaverse and advanced scientific developments, in cooperation with Dr. Dmitry Chebanov, presents the concept of DNA avatars — digital twins created on the basis of genetic code.
The genetic code data is processed using powerful artificial intelligence algorithms and forms the basis for creating a digital avatar. In the Holiverse metaverse, an avatar not only visualizes current physical characteristics, but also simulates future changes to the body based on various factors: lifestyle, diet, or medical intervention.
Why are digital avatars becoming a profitable asset?
Avatars play a key role in the growing digital economy. Users invest in virtual clothing, accessories, and real estate to personalize their avatars. These assets often exist as NFTs, providing ownership.
The digital avatar market is experiencing rapid growth, driven by the development of artificial intelligence technologies and the growing demand for innovative ways to interact with users. Platforms like Holiverse allow users to create their own DNA avatars, fueling a virtual economy that is expected to grow exponentially. The global digital avatar market size was valued at USD 21.50 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 454.75 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 46.59% from 2024 to 2031.
The key factors driving this growth are:
Integration of AI avatars across industries. Companies are implementing digital avatars to enhance customer engagement, improve service efficiency, and streamline business processes.
Advancements in virtual and augmented reality technologies. The use of VR and AR is helping to create more realistic and interactive avatars, expanding their use in marketing, education, and entertainment.
Rise in popularity of virtual influencers and digital avatars. Brands are increasingly turning to virtual characters to promote their products, reducing human factors and providing greater flexibility in marketing campaigns.
Digital avatars: how they change our education, medicine, and leisure
The development of digital avatars is having a significant impact on people's daily lives, penetrating various spheres and changing the way we interact, work, and play. Let's look at the key areas where digital avatars are used:
Education and training
Digital avatars are used in educational platforms to create interactive and personalized learning materials. They can act as virtual teachers, conducting classes and answering students' questions, which helps them learn the material more effectively.
Personalized medicine with the DNA avatar Holiverse
Holiverse, founded by Lado Okhotnikov, aims to become the first provider of personalized medicine in virtual reality. It plans to create wellness programs based on human DNA to combat 12 signs of aging. Traditional treatments often do not take into account individual patient characteristics, such as genes, hormones, immune system, and lifestyle, which leads to varied effectiveness of the same drugs in different people.
Bearing this in mind, experts came up with the concept of “digital twins” — virtual models that can predict the body's response to various drugs without risk to human health. Holiverse aims to move away from the standard approach to treatment, offering personalized methods that focus on the unique characteristics of each person. Digital twins in the metaverse will help track key aspects of health, such as weight, exercise, appearance, psychological health, libido and cognitive functions, ensuring harmony and energy of the body.
Tourism and hospitality
Virtual guides and consultants based on digital avatars help travelers get information about attractions, routes and services, making travel more informative and convenient.
Entertainment and media
Digital avatars are actively used in the film industry, games and social networks. A striking example is the virtual influencer Lil Miquela, who collaborated with famous brands and was quite active online, erasing the boundaries between the real and digital worlds.
Business and marketing
Companies create digital avatars to interact with clients, conduct presentations and advertising campaigns. Such avatars can host events, interact with the audience and even with their own prototype.
Social interactions
Virtual avatars allow people to represent themselves in digital spaces, participate in virtual communities, and even form new aspects of their identity. This opens up opportunities for self-expression and communication without geographical limitations.
The future of digital avatars
The evolution of avatars is far from over. Future advances will include artificial intelligence and holographic technologies, allowing avatars to participate in human conversations, recognize emotions, and adapt to user preferences. Holographic avatars projected into physical space can merge the digital and physical worlds, revolutionizing remote work, education, and entertainment.
The integration of blockchain technology provides secure ownership of digital identities, allowing avatars to transcend platforms and retain unique characteristics.
The emergence of avatars brings certain challenges, including concerns about privacy, security, and ethical representation. Ensuring diversity and inclusivity in avatar creation remains critical, as does addressing concerns about identity theft and misuse in virtual spaces.
Shaping a new digital reality
Digital avatars have evolved from static representations to dynamic embodiments of identity and expression. As the metaverse develops, avatars will redefine how we connect, communicate, and transact. With advances in AI, virtual reality, and blockchain, the future of avatars promises deeper integration into our digital lives, facilitating a connected and personalized virtual existence.
