Business

South Korea unveils AI Humans

Published

2 years ago

September 25, 2023

26 Views

South Korea Pulse9 has created digital humans for some of South Korea’s largest conglomerates, including Shinsegae, with research indicating the global market for such life-like creations could reach $527 billion by 2030.

In South Korea, AI humans have enrolled as students at universities, interned at major companies, and appear regularly on live television driving sellouts of products from food to luxury handbags.

Her face is a deep fake. Her body belongs to a team of similar-sized actors. But she sings, reads the news, and sells luxury clothes on TV as AI humans go mainstream in South Korea.

Meet Zaein, one of South Korea’s most active virtual humans, who was created by Pulse9, an artificial intelligence company that is working to bring corporate dreams of the perfect employee to life.

But Pulse9 says this is only the beginning. They are “working on developing the technology to broaden AI human use”, Park Ji-eun, the company’s CEO, told AFP.

“Virtual humans are basically capable of carrying out much of what real people do,” she said, adding that the current level of AI technology means humans are still needed – for now.

The demand for AI humans in South Korea was initially driven by the K-pop industry, with the idea of a virtual idol – not prone to scandals and able to work 24/7 – proving popular with the country’s notoriously hard-driving music agencies.

But now, Pulse9 is “expanding their roles in society to show that these virtual humans aren’t just fantasy idols but can coexist with humans as colleagues and friends”, Park said.

– K-pop face –

Zaein’s face was created by a deep learning analysis – an AI method that teaches computers to process complex data – of the faces of K-pop stars over the last two decades.

Doe-eyed with delicate features, fair skin and a willowy figure, she is brought to life by overlaying the deepfake on a human actor.

More than 10 human actors, each with different talents — from singing, dancing, acting, to reporting — help animate Zaein, which is what makes this particular AI creation so “special”, Park said.

On a Monday morning, AFP met with one of the actors as she was preparing to deliver a report as Zaein on a live morning news programme on South Korean broadcaster SBS.

“I think it can be a good practice for people who want to become celebrities and that’s what appealed to me,” said the actor, who could not be named due to company policy.

A representative for Pulse9 said the identities of all human actors are concealed and their real faces are not shown.

Despite the strict measures to keep their profiles hidden, the actor said playing as a virtual human opened new doors.

“Typically, a lot of people in their teens and young people become K-pop idols and I’m way past that age, but it’s nice to be able to take on that challenge,” the actor, who is in her 30s, told AFP.

“I’d love to try acting as a man if I can manage my voice well, and maybe a foreigner — something that I can’t become in real life.”

– ‘Real and fake’ –

Creating artificial humans will continue to require real people “until a really strong AI is created in the future which will be able to process everything by itself”, Park said.

The potential — and potential perils — of AI have exploded into the public consciousness in recent months since ChatGPT burst onto the scene at the end of last year.

Experts around the world, including AI pioneers, have spoken out about its dangers, and several countries are seeking regulation of the powerful but high-risk invention.

But Park is not concerned. Her company is working on new virtual idols, virtual influencers, and virtual sales agents to take over customer-facing tasks for South Korean conglomerates, which are increasingly struggling with recruitment in the low-birthrate country.

South Korea — and the world — needs better, clearer regulations on what AI can do, she said, adding that when done properly, the technology can add to “the richness of life”.

The trouble, however, is that a deepfake can “make it impossible to tell what is real and fake”, Kim Myuhng-joo, a professor of information security at Seoul Women’s University, told AFP.

“It’s an egregious tool when used to harm others or put people in trouble. That’s why it’s becoming a problem,” he added.

AFP

Business

BREAKING: Dangote refinery Reduces petrol price from N880 to N840 per litre

Published

10 hours ago

June 30, 2025

Charles Flames

11 Views

….New rate takes effect from June 30.

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has reduced the ex-depot price of Premium Motor Spirit, popularly known as petrol, from N880 to N840 per litre.

Anthony Chiejina, the Spokesman for the Dangote Group, confirmed the price adjustment on Monday night.

Chiejina said the new rate took effect on June 30.

He said, “PMS price has been reduced from N880 to N840 per litre effective 30th June,.

Recall that Dangote refinery hiked the price of petrol to N880 as tension escalated during the 12-day crisis between Israel and Iran, raising the price of crude oil to almost $80 per barrel.

Also, marketers anticipated that there would be a new price regime from Monday.

Dangote’s partners like MRS, Heyden and AP are expected to adjust their pump prices soon.

Business

FG Suspends Implementation of Financial Reporting Council (Amendment) Act 2023

Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, announced the decision in a release on Monday.

Published

22 hours ago

June 30, 2025

OhiBaba

24 Views

• Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole

The Federal Government has suspended the implementation of contentious provisions in the Financial Reporting Council (Amendment) Act 2023 following concerns raised by private sector stakeholders.

Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, announced the decision in a release on Monday.

She said that it followed a series of high-level consultations with key industry groups.

These include the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), and the Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS).

At the heart of the concerns is the reclassification of large private companies as Public Interest Entities, requiring them to remit annual dues between 0.02 and 0.05 percent of turnover without a ceiling.

This is in contrast to the ₦25 million cap placed on publicly listed companies regardless of their size.

Stakeholders warned that the provision could increase compliance costs and hurt investor confidence.

But the minister said the policy was part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s pro-business posture under the 8-Point Agenda and has responded with practical measures.

She explained that a stakeholder consultation was held on March 26, 2025, leading to an administrative pause and the formation of a Technical Working Group.

The group, she noted, comprised representatives from NECA, MAN, ALTON, NACCIMA, CAC, SEC, and others and held six meetings over three weeks that culminated in the submission of a comprehensive report on April 17, 2025.

Based on the findings, Oduwole, said President Tinubu briefed and recommended the continuation of the pause pending legislative review.

“To provide immediate relief, the Ministry has now directed the Financial Reporting Council to impose an interim cap of ₦25 million on annual dues for private sector PIEs, aligning them with the publicly quoted companies.

Business

Dangote Refinery to plough back N1.7trn into economy

From August 15, Dangote will begin the direct delivery of petrol and diesel to filling stations, industrial facilities, and other high-volume consumers.

Published

1 day ago

June 30, 2025

OCHEFA

25 Views

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has earmarked to plough back N1.7 trillion gross annual savings from domestic fuel distributions into the economy.

In a statement, the company said that the daily distributions of 65 million litres of petrol, diesel and Jet AI and CNG nationwide would bolster the government’s presidential CNG initiative, and every key actors in the distributions value chains.

In a breakdown of the refinery’s benefits to all Nigerians, it emphasized that the familiar narrative of perennial fuel scarcity and adulterated fuel imports by marketers is being replaced by ” no more fuel scarcity, and consistent supply of high quality petroleum products from the refinery.

It added that the refinery’s operations will likely cut down the nation’s inflation from the current 33 percent to 23 percent, while pushing the GDP growth rate from 2 percent to 3.4 percent.

Regarding the over N720 billion it was investing on deploying 4,000 Compressed Natural Gas-powered trucks for the nationwide distribution of petroleum products, the company said that it will significantly benefit over 42 million Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) by reducing energy costs and enhancing profitability.

The initiative, which eliminates transportation costs for fuel marketers and large-scale consumers, is expected to help reduce pump prices and inflation.

From August 15, Dangote will begin the direct delivery of petrol and diesel to filling stations, industrial facilities, and other high-volume consumers, the company said.

According to the statement from the refinery, it aims to meet Nigeria’s daily consumption of 65 million litres of refined petroleum products.

This includes 45 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) or petrol, 15 million litres of diesel, and 5 million litres of aviation fuel.

The initiative is also expected to resuscitate dormant filling stations, fostering job creation in the process.

Over 15,000 direct jobs are projected to be created across the logistics chain, including drivers, station managers, and attendants at the CNG stations.