AI Studios is a leading company in artificial intelligence, providing innovative solutions that enhance human interaction and media content creation. Pulse 2.0 interviewed AI Studios founder and CEO Eric Seyoung Jang to learn more about the company.
Eric Seyoung Jang’s Background
What is Eric Seyoung Jang’s background? Jang said:
“Science and technology have always fascinated me, which led me to pursue an Electrical and Computer Engineering degree at Seoul National University. During my time there, I was actively involved in the venture club, eventually becoming its vice president. This experience ignited my entrepreneurial spirit and led me to embark on three startup ventures before founding AI Studios in 2016.”
“Before AI Studios, I served as the CTO of Finger Inc. from August 2011 to March 2014, where I oversaw the development of mobile solutions, including mobile security and banking applications for major financial institutions like Shinhan Bank and Kookmin Bank. I also worked as a Software Engineer at SK Holdings C&C from August 2009 to July 2011, leading client development for mobile solutions and common projects for Woori Bank. Additionally, I was the CEO of PageOn Inc. from May 2005 to August 2008, focusing on developing voice recognition systems for vehicles and conversational agents.”
“These experiences have shaped my approach to leadership and innovation, driving my commitment to advancing AI technology to enhance human interactions.”
Formation Of AI Studios
How did the idea for the company come together? Jang shared:
“The idea for AI Studios was inspired by the victory of AlphaGo over Lee Sedol in 2016. This event demonstrated the immense potential of AI beyond theoretical applications. I realized that AI could transform everyday interactions and business operations, making them more human-like and engaging. This led to the founding of AI Studios, with the vision of developing AI technologies that humanize digital interactions.”
“With this vision in mind, we initially focused on developing chatbots and successfully implemented solutions in the financial sector. Building on this success, we expanded our expertise to include video synthesis technology, bringing us to where we are today. Our overarching goal is to bridge the gap between AI and humans, embodying our vision of ‘AI For Human Life.’”
“Our journey began with chatbots and moved towards developing sophisticated AI avatars and video synthesis solutions. Starting with the broadcasting and financial sectors, we have been expanding our business domains continuously. As the CEO, my primary responsibilities include setting the strategic direction of the company, driving innovation, and ensuring that our products meet the highest standards of quality and user satisfaction. We strive to create technologies that enhance human interactions, making digital experiences more intuitive and accessible.”
Favorite Memory
What has been Jang’s favorite memory working for the company so far? Jang reflected:
“There have been many memorable moments in our business journey. One of my favorite memories is when Kim Joo-ha, a prominent anchor from MBN, was transformed into an AI Avatar and broadcast on TV. It was thrilling to see our technology in action. Another proud moment was when our AI Avatars, in the form of AI Kiosks, began operating as AI Bankers at KB Kookmin Bank branches, significantly improving customer service and efficiency. Additionally, our technology was used during the last presidential election to broadcast the candidates’ pledges, which was quite remarkable.”
“However, the times spent with our team, such as company dinners and year-end events, are even more cherished. Before the pandemic, we held a Halloween costume contest, which showcased our employees’ creativity and helped build strong bonds. These connections are what drive AI Studios to work harder and achieve better results than others. Our shared memories and strong team spirit are the true fuel behind our successes and innovations.”
Core Products
What are the company’s core products and features? Jang explained:
“At the heart of AI Studios’s technology is our AI Avatar. We were the first in the world to successfully commercialize video synthesis technology, making significant strides in this domain. Our capabilities include creating 2D and 3D AI Avatars, character avatars, and Custom Avatars, covering a comprehensive range of AI Avatar solutions.”
“Our core products are AI Studios and AI Human. AI Studios is a platform that enables users to create high-quality videos using AI avatars. It features tools like Prompt to Video, PPT to Video, and URL to Video, allowing users to generate engaging video content easily. Recently, we introduced Custom Avatar and Dream Avatar features, enabling the creation of personalized avatars efficiently.”
“AI Human is our conversational AI solution that integrates large language models to provide real-time, human-like interactions. This product enhances user experience by delivering natural and responsive conversations, making it ideal for customer service applications across various industries. These products are designed to streamline content creation, improve customer service, and elevate user engagement, positioning AI Studios as a leader in AI technology.”
Challenges Faced
What challenges have Jang and the team face in building the company? Jang acknowledged:
“One of the challenges we faced was the initial confusion between our Generative AI technology and deepfake technology. As the misuse of deepfake technology became more prevalent, we received many questions about the differences between our solutions and deepfakes. We addressed this by emphasizing our commitment to ethical AI practices and ensuring that our solutions are controlled and monitored.”
“To turn this challenge into an opportunity, we developed and launched a DeepFake Detection Tool. Recognizing the increasing abuse of deepfake technology, we wanted to contribute positively by providing a solution to help detect and prevent misuse. This tool not only served an ethical purpose but also opened new business opportunities. We were able to supply this technology to the Korean National Police Agency, where it is now used to prevent various emerging crimes and identify perpetrators.”
“Additionally, we faced challenges related to data privacy and integration with existing systems. Overcoming these challenges involved continuous innovation, educating stakeholders, and implementing robust data privacy measures. Through these efforts, we ensured that our solutions remained secure, reliable, and aligned with the highest ethical standards.”
Evolution Of DeepBrain’s Technology
How has the company’s technology evolved since launching? Jang noted:
“Our journey began with developing chatbots, and we successfully implemented solutions in the financial sector. As we progressed, we envisioned creating AI Avatars that could mimic real human interactions. This led to the development and successful commercialization of video synthesis technology.”
“Entering the Text-to-Video (TTV) domain, we focused on creating photorealistic avatars to deliver more natural and lifelike experiences. Our dedication to this goal resulted in the launch of AI Studios, a SaaS platform enabling users to create high-quality videos using AI avatars with features like Prompt to Video and PPT to Video.”
“To meet the needs of our B2B customers, we integrated chatbots and large language models (LLMs) with our AI Avatars, leading to the development of AI Human, a conversational AI solution providing real-time, human-like interactions. As the demand for 3D avatars grew, we quickly developed and offered these as well.”
“Today, we continue to innovate by making avatar creation accessible to everyone with the launch of Custom Avatar and Dream Avatar, allowing individuals to easily and quickly create their own avatars. Our goal is to make having a personal avatar a common reality for everyone.”
Significant Milestones
What have been some of the company’s most significant milestones? Jang cited:
“One of our most significant milestones was the launch of our video synthesis technology. This innovation marked a major turning point for us, enabling the creation of AI Avatars that could seamlessly integrate into various applications. Leveraging this technology, we successfully partnered with major broadcasters like MBN and LG HelloVision, bringing our AI Avatars to the public eye through television.”
“As we advanced, we recognized the need for conversational solutions from our B2B customers. This led to the development and launch of AI Human, a conversational AI solution. Our implementation of AI Kiosks in KB Kookmin Bank branches demonstrated the practical application and value of our technology, significantly enhancing customer service. This success extended beyond the financial sector, showcasing our role in retail environments such as supermarkets, convenience stores, department stores, airports, and innovation centers.”
“Additionally, our strategic partnerships with leading tech companies like NVIDIA and Microsoft have been pivotal. These alliances have enhanced our technological capabilities and expanded our market reach. Expanding our operations globally, including opening an office in California, has also been a crucial step in our growth journey, allowing us to better serve our international clients and explore new opportunities.”
Customer Success Stories
When asking Jang about customer success stories, he highlighted:
“One notable success story involves our collaboration with Mondelēz International, one of the largest snack companies globally. Mondelēz faced challenges with their employee and visitor check-in process, which was time-consuming and resource-intensive. We implemented our AI Kiosk solution, featuring a custom avatar based on the beloved Chips Ahoy! character. This AI Kiosk, deployed in their corporate lobbies, provided a faster, automated check-in process, saving time and resources while making the experience engaging and enjoyable for users. The use of AWS servers ensured low latency and high performance, demonstrating our capability to deliver scalable and reliable solutions.”
“In the education sector, our AI technology has proven to be highly impactful. During the pandemic, we collaborated with Kyowon Group, a prominent educational company in Korea known for its “Red Pen” home-visit learning system. With in-person visits becoming impractical, we developed an AI Tutor using our AI Avatar technology, which was integrated into an app to create a virtual teacher. This innovation allowed Kyowon to maintain its user base and received positive feedback from both students and parents.”
“Beyond primary and secondary education, we are exploring the use of AI professors for online lectures in cyber universities. For instance, Incheon National University has piloted this approach, using AI-generated professors to deliver lectures. This success has led us to engage in similar projects with other cyber universities, highlighting the potential of our technology in higher education.”
“Corporate training is another area where our AI solutions have made a significant impact. Our AI Studios platform is used to create engaging and informative training videos, enabling companies to provide consistent and high-quality training materials to their employees. These successes demonstrate the versatility and effectiveness of our AI technologies across various educational settings.”
Funding
When asking Jang about the company’s funding details, he revealed:
“While specific funding and revenue metrics are confidential, I can share that AI Studios has secured significant investment from both domestic and international investors. We have successfully raised a total of $54 million through Series B funding rounds. These investments have fueled our research and development efforts, enabling us to innovate and expand our product offerings.”
“Our revenue growth has been robust, driven by the increasing adoption of our AI solutions across various industries. We operate a dual revenue model, with AI Studios providing a SaaS platform for creating high-quality videos, and AI Human offering B2B conversational solutions. Both models have shown consistent growth, contributing significantly to our financial stability.”
“We are actively engaged in global projects across Asia, the Americas, and Europe, showcasing our strong international capabilities. Our SaaS model, in particular, continues to grow steadily, serving as a reliable cash cow for our business. We are optimistic about our global reach and the positive impact of our solutions on diverse markets.”
“We continue to explore new funding opportunities to support our growth and further enhance our technological capabilities. Our focus remains on maintaining our innovative edge and expanding our market presence worldwide.”
Total Addressable Market
What total addressable market (TAM) size is the company pursuing? Jang assessed:
“The total addressable market for AI Studios is substantial, encompassing sectors such as customer service, education, media, and content creation. The global generative AI market is expected to grow significantly, with estimates indicating that it will reach approximately USD 67.18 billion by 2024 and potentially surge to USD 967.65 billion by 2032, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 39.6% during this period (Fortune Business Insights) (MarketsandMarkets).”
“Our focus on providing scalable, user-friendly AI technologies positions us well to capture a significant share of this expansive market. We are continuously exploring new applications and markets to expand our reach and maximize our impact. Our solutions are highly applicable in various industries, including broadcasting, financial services, education, and retail, making the TAM virtually limitless. As the demand for AI-driven solutions grows, we expect our market to expand further, ensuring that our technology remains indispensable in a wide array of environments where customer interactions and content creation are crucial.”
“Furthermore, as our technology continues to evolve and new needs arise, we anticipate that the market for our solutions will only grow, not diminish. Our ability to adapt and innovate will keep us at the forefront of this rapidly expanding industry, meeting the increasing demands of our global clientele.”
Differentiation From The Competition
What differentiates the company from its competition? Jang affirmed:
“What sets AI Studios apart from the competition is our commitment to humanizing AI interactions through the development of the most lifelike AI avatars and conversational AI solutions. Our AI avatars stand out with their natural gestures and full-body capabilities, which have received positive feedback across the industry. Our test results, including PSNR, SSIM, and CTT, show that our 4K avatars are nearly indistinguishable from real humans. We are the only company offering full-body avatars with smooth, natural gestures using frame interpolation and gesture key-framing, supported by fast and low-latency avatars backed by streaming inference, distributed GPU, and lightweight machine learning.”
“Unlike many competitors who focus solely on Text-to-Video solutions, we have concentrated on conversational solutions from the beginning. This focus has not only enhanced our technical expertise but also allowed us to secure numerous customer success stories with AI Human, our conversational AI solution. Our technology is already in use across various industries, providing real-world applications and benefits.”
“In addition to these core differentiators, our strategic partnerships with leading tech companies further enhance our competitive edge. These alliances allow us to leverage the latest advancements in AI technology, ensuring that our solutions remain cutting-edge and highly effective.”
Future Company Goals
What are some of the company’s future company goals? Jang pointed out:
“Looking ahead, our goals are centered around our vision of ‘AI for Human Life’ and ‘Bridging the Gap between AI and Humans.’ We aim to expand our global footprint and enhance our AI technologies to continue developing innovative solutions that meet the evolving needs of our clients. Strengthening our presence in key markets such as North America, Europe, and Asia is a priority.”
“We are focused on advancing our AI Human and AI Studios platforms, incorporating more features and capabilities to provide even greater value to our users. By combining our AI technologies with emerging advancements like large language models (LLMs), we aim to quickly adapt and serve as a gateway for users to connect seamlessly with AI.”
“We plan to explore new applications for our AI technologies across various industries, from broadcasting and financial services to education and retail. Our goal is for our AI Avatars to play an active role in enhancing user experiences, making digital interactions more intuitive and accessible, and ultimately realizing our vision of a world where AI enhances everyday life.”
Additional Thoughts
Any other topics you would like to discuss? Jang concluded:
“I would like to highlight our commitment to ethical AI practices. As AI technologies continue to advance, it is crucial that we prioritize transparency, fairness, and accountability. At AI Studios, we are dedicated to developing solutions that not only enhance user experiences but also uphold the highest ethical standards. We believe that responsible AI usage is essential for building trust and ensuring the long-term success of our industry.”
“In addition to our flagship products, AI Studios and AI Human, we have developed a product called DeepFake Detector. This solution identifies content generated using deepfake technology. Unlike our SaaS offerings, this tool is available as an on-premises solution, capable of handling large-scale inspections. The Korean National Police Agency has adopted our DeepFake Detector to assist in preventing and detecting various crimes.”
“The motivation behind developing the DeepFake Detector stemmed from the early days when our generative AI technology was often compared to deepfake technology. At that time, the concept of generative AI was not well understood, leading to frequent comparisons. Although the situation has improved, we continue to see the misuse of deepfake technology in harmful ways. This prompted us to invest in research and develop a solution to combat this issue.”
“We are excited about the potential of AI to transform various sectors and improve the quality of life for people around the world. We look forward to continuing our journey of innovation and making a positive impact through our AI technologies.”
