Virtual influencers receive up to three times more engagement than traditional influencers. Brands are using them instead of corporate mascots. What effects might virtual influencers have on safety and mental health? Can virtual influencers be leveraged for good and where are we headed with the integrations of AI into virtual influencers?
Session Video
The "Whose Influence is it anyway?" panel discussion at the Metaverse Safety Week aimed to explore the effects of virtual influencers on safety and mental health and how AI can be leveraged for good in this context.
The panelists included Theo Priestley, Charmaine Lee, and String Nguyen, who provided insights on the impact of virtual identities and the role of privacy, security, and ethics in the creative process. They highlighted the need to build safeguards to mitigate risks in the evolving metaverse and emphasized the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration in establishing a safe and trustworthy ecosystem.
The panelists also discussed the potential for virtual influencers to be used for positive purposes and how AI analytics can be employed to provide insights to game developers and metaverse builders. They emphasized the need for creators to be mindful of the potential risks and ethical implications of their creations and advocated for responsible and inclusive development practices.
Overall, the panel discussion provided a thought-provoking exploration of the complex issues surrounding virtual identities and their influence in the metaverse, highlighting the need for ongoing dialogue and collaboration to build a safe and ethical digital future.
During the "Panel Discussion" on "Whose Influence is it anyway?", the speakers discussed the impact of virtual influencers on safety and mental health, and whether they can be leveraged for good. Here are some of the main ideas and insights discussed:
Virtual influencers receive up to three times more engagement than traditional influencers, making them an attractive option for brands looking to reach consumers.
However, virtual influencers also raise concerns about their impact on safety and mental health, particularly for young people who may struggle to distinguish between real and virtual content.
It was suggested that virtual influencers could be used for good, for example, by promoting positive messages and encouraging healthy behaviors.
The speakers also discussed the role of AI in virtual influencers, and how it could be used to enhance their authenticity and emotional intelligence.
The panelists emphasized the need for safeguards to mitigate risks associated with virtual influencers, such as regulation and education for consumers.
The broader theme of the Metaverse Safety Week, in which this panel discussion took place, was the need to establish safeguards to ensure a safe and trustworthy ecosystem as the metaverse and Web3 continue to evolve.
The speakers also touched on the broader implications of the metaverse on digital culture and creative domains, discussing the importance of incorporating privacy, security, and ethics into the creative process.
We are entering a post-reality era with a diminishing sense of safety, privacy, and trust. We need to come together to address these risks proactively and reduce harm to humans and societies. XR Safety Initiative (XRSI) believes that the first step to this is creating awareness and safeguards.
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