Subscribe to Updates

    Get the latest creative news from FooBar about art, design and business.

    What's Hot

    WTF is Solarpunk??

    Sugar Gamers Industry Night: Emerging from the Epidemic

    Can We Take a Break and Talk About the UFO’s, Please?

    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    • Community Entrance
    • Work With Us
    • Our Partners and Clients
    Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
    Sugar GamersSugar Gamers
    • News
      • Tech
      • Gaming
      • Culture
    • Projects
      • Project Violacea
      • Tachyon League
      • Live CGI
    • The Community
    • About Sugar Gamers
      • Contact Us
      • Internships
      • About Keisha
    Sugar GamersSugar Gamers
    Home»Culture»The Good, The Bad, The Uncanny Valley of CGI Influencers
    Culture

    The Good, The Bad, The Uncanny Valley of CGI Influencers

    Esha KnowsBy Esha KnowsUpdated:No Comments5 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    The Good, The Bad, The Uncanny Valley of CGI Influencers 3 Sugar Gamers
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    As we sit around in 2020 living inside of a digital age, at some point we have to look around and smell the roses. Innovative technology has not only boomed in its own regard but with the mix of social media, it raises new levels. In 2018, our Sugar Gamer, Jennifer Touge, who touched on the mesh between the real world and the virtual world.

    The Good, The Bad, The Uncanny Valley of CGI Influencers 4 Sugar Gamers
    Source: Cameron-James Wilson

    Throughout the years Shudu, the world’s first digital model, might look a bit more familiar to some as she popped onto the internet in 2017. Being a designed trend-setter and initiating the tone for the “perfection trend”, it’s quite clear the overall use she could be. Even though we see a beautiful supermodel from South Africa named Shudu strutting in designer clothes which is nice. But who is behind the virtual frame we see straight out from our phone screen? Even when she’s promoting the new Galaxy Z Flip on hers.

    The Good, The Bad, The Uncanny Valley of CGI Influencers 6 Sugar Gamers
    Source: Shudu X Samsung Campaign Ad on Facebook

    His name is Cameron-James Wilson, the former photographer now a 3D artist. Walking out from the streets of London, he’s the CEO of his company The Diigitals Agency; a virtual modeling agency. After fitting all the puzzle pieces together in our head, from the start Shudu couldn’t have been the only one according to Wilson.

    The Good, The Bad, The Uncanny Valley of CGI Influencers 8 Sugar Gamers
    Source: Cameron-James Wilson

    Given the background of his first supermodel Shudu, is there a line that should be drawn? Meanwhile, it’s clear Cameron-James Wilson is a caucasian male while Shudu Gram is a woman of color.

    Whatever thoughts are being had behind the scenes, we see them coming out of the virtual models’ mouth. In that sense, consequences are to be followed by acute behavior yet mimicked by actions from the digital with the mind of the artist; Who do we punish? At what point is that blurred world between the two now a black and white responsibility?

    Miquela Sousa aka Lil’ Miquela is another digital face that’s still popular to this day. Miquela is 19 years old and has over 1 million followers on Instagram. Very large marketing brands, celebrities, and companies can utilize someone like Lil’ Miquela.

    The Good, The Bad, The Uncanny Valley of CGI Influencers 10 Sugar Gamers
    Source: Lil Miquela Instagram

    Her fresh style alone caters to a certain audience so why not lure even the niche followers in and that doesn’t count when she’s modeling for designers like Prada. Her followers get the humanistic benefits of social media, like Miquela to get people voting for example.

    Having an account with a large following could benefit a handful of minds when it comes to spreading information. If Miquela can’t do any wrong as you begin to care for her as if she was one of us, would it matter? What I mean by that is you actually listen to the words she says or follows her daily life because you’re curious about what’s going to happen next. Even if the creators behind Sousa are Trevor McFedries and Sara DeCou? More humans?

    The Good, The Bad, The Uncanny Valley of CGI Influencers 12 Sugar Gamers
    Source: Blawko and Lil Miquela with Brud’s Trevor McFedries and Sara DeCou

    As 2020 still continues to pass through, the age of CGI influencers and models aren’t going anywhere any time soon. When the term automation comes to light, there’s a big conception of how our jobs can get taken. But, isn’t there still a way to utilize these same tools with what we’re doing now so that everyone wins? We don’t want to think all options will blow through the window, but digital marketing can benefit from each other. Especially when your job market doesn’t solely have to rely on technology to survive.

    I mean, let’s not forget when Louis Vuitton used Claire Farron aka Lightning, the video game character from Final Fantasy to promote their handbags in 2015,

    The Good, The Bad, The Uncanny Valley of CGI Influencers 14 Sugar Gamers
    Source: Nicolas Ghesquiere Instagram

    As we head into the future, imagine a company “training” a digital AI of yourself in a lab. Then over time, they’ll be able to upload your personal consciousness into a computerized AI that looks like you to use for some sort of benefit? A company like Soul Machines knows just what that possibility could look like. During S1-E1 of the original YouTube show called How Far is Too Far? | The Age of A.I, the CEO of Soul Machines – Dr. Mark Sagar, walks us through the process. Wil.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas pairs up with the company as he himself has plans of using this technology in the future. It’s all about training the Machine by it learning from you. “The models can sense the environment, they can react, they can learn in real-time,” said Dr. Mark Sager in an interview in 2017. These superintelligent beings are viewing the way you talk, respond to questions, and more because they are simply a simulation of us.

    The Good, The Bad, The Uncanny Valley of CGI Influencers 16 Sugar Gamers
    Source: Soul Machines

    Now just think that same technology, but with someone like Lil’ Miquela, who emulates emotion online with storytelling. The uncanny valley could set in because there’s a possibility they can look exactly like you and I; Is that a bad thing? A digital inspiration, yet transferred into a human body? Could you see this technology be used in the world one day? Until then, what are your thoughts about CGI and AI Influencers? Do you think they are going to 100% of humans and digital work? At the end of the day is it all about perfection when it comes to advertising?

    Tell us what you think.

    ai Brands CGI Digital Influencers Lil Miquela Marketing Shudu social media
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Esha Knows
    • Website
    • Twitter
    • Instagram

    Content Strategist with expertise in creating content for the gaming, tech, and MMA communities. Esha has worked with Facebook and Oculus, traveling worldwide, showcasing the newest AR/VR technology and content. As an early adopter of VR, playing the games, and attending social events, I want my friends, colleagues, and family to find as much joy out of VR as I do.

    Related Posts

    WTF is Solarpunk??

    Sugar Gamers Industry Night: Emerging from the Epidemic

    So…FENTY BEAUTY IS RIOT GAMES’ FIRST BEAUTY PARTNER NOW??

    The Psychology of Pokemon Interview – Dr. Anthony Bean from Geek Therapeutics

    Add A Comment

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    Latest Post
    • WTF is Solarpunk??
    • Sugar Gamers Industry Night: Emerging from the Epidemic
    • Can We Take a Break and Talk About the UFO’s, Please?
    • Play Two and Call Me in the Morning: Games to Play When You’re Sad
    • Want to see your face on the team page? Check out our internship and career opportunities. 
    • Have an awesome game or new gadget you’d like us to review? Have a great story to tell? Need us at your event to speak or provide coverage?  Let’s figure out how we can work together.
    • Want to see your logo on our partners and clients page? check out our corporate partnership and Sponsorship opportunities, or send us an email.
    Editors Picks

    WTF is Solarpunk??

    Sugar Gamers Industry Night: Emerging from the Epidemic

    Can We Take a Break and Talk About the UFO’s, Please?

    Play Two and Call Me in the Morning: Games to Play When You’re Sad

    Sugar Gamers
    Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
    • Community Entrance
    • Work With Us
    • Our Partners and Clients
    © 2022 Sugar Gamers.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.