Her face is a deepfake. 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. 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. 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 … [Read more...] about From K-pop to sales girls: AI goes mainstream in South Korea
Inside south koreas race to become one of the worlds biggest arms dealers vnexpress international
Vietnam world’s 19th most visited destination this summer
Vietnam ranked 19th in a list of 40 most visited countries based on an analysis of flight bookings between July 1 and August 31 by Spain-based travel data and analytics company ForwardKeys. Most Southeast Asian countries, except Thailand, stood behind Vietnam on the list, including the Philippines at 23rd, Singapore 24th, Indonesia 27th, and Malaysia 36th. Thailand was 14th and one of the only two Southeast Asian countries to break into the top 20 along with Vietnam. The number of foreign tourists arriving in Vietnam by air this summer jumped 12% over the same period last year but was 28% lower than pre-pandemic levels, the report said. Vietnam welcomed 2.3 million international visitors in July and August, equivalent to 80% of the figure during the same period in 2019. Of these, nearly 2 million visitors arrived by air, about 88% of pre-pandemic levels, according to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism. Starting August 15, Vietnam's new immigration policy accepts … [Read more...] about Vietnam world’s 19th most visited destination this summer
Swimming ace Qin breaks Games record as skateboarder, 9, has ‘fun’
The hosts enjoyed success in gymnastics, fencing, rowing, shooting, taekwondo and mountain biking to top the medals table in Hangzhou with 39 golds at the end of the second full day of action. South Korea and Japan are their closest competitors with a distant 10 and five golds respectively. China romped to all seven titles on the opening day of swimming on Sunday in an ominous display ahead of next summer's Paris Olympics, but they did not have it all their own way a day later. South Korea's Ji Yu-chan set a new Asian Games record in the men's 50 m freestyle of 21.72secs in a shock win ahead of Hong Kong's Ian Ho (21.87) and teenage Chinese star Pan Zhanle (21.92). Olympic silver medalist Siobhan Haughey clinched Hong Kong's first Asian Games swimming gold ever with an emphatic victory in the 200 m freestyle in a sizzling 1 min 54.12 sec, another Games record. "It's very special," she said. South Korea's night got even better when they took gold ahead of the hosts in the … [Read more...] about Swimming ace Qin breaks Games record as skateboarder, 9, has ‘fun’
SK Group to build biodegradable material factory in Vietnam
SKC, a chemical unit under the energy-to-telecom conglomerate SK Group, said on September 25 that the factory of Ecovance, a joint venture between SKC and two other South Korea partners, will be established in Vietnam's northeastern city of Hai Phong to manufacture polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT), a biodegradable co-polymer widely used as feedstock for general plastics. The facility is set to go operational in 2025 and produce 70,000 tonnes of PBAT a year. Officials of SKC and Ecovance visited Hai Phong on September 22 for a ceremony where Vietnamese authorities presented them with an investment registration certificate. Ecovance specializes in developing PBAT with enhanced durability. PBAT is extensively used in general purpose plastics, from industrial films and food containers to diapers and masks. SKC will also be building a separate facility to produce an annual 36,000 tonnes of its biodegradable material, named Limex, at the same site, according to the firm. … [Read more...] about SK Group to build biodegradable material factory in Vietnam
Hanoi and its urban planning problems
Fifty-six lives were lost in the fire at the apartment block in Hanoi's Thanh Xuan District on September 12, and with them, all their dreams and ambitions, all the impacts they could have made on the world. How did it come to this? The owner of the apartment building has been arrested, and investigations are ongoing. Some people will need to be held responsible. Regulations for apartment blocks will be tighter. But somehow, I feel that all these solutions have yet to reach the root of the problem. Around 10 million people in Hanoi are crammed together in a tiny area next to the Red River. Traffic jams, inundations, air pollution, lack of trees, and now fires... these are just some of the problems that Hanoians have to cope with. The capital has lost its shine over the years. Aerial view of multiple skyscrapers at the Nguyen Tuan-Le Van Luong-Hoang Minh Giam intersection in Hanoi. Photo by VnExpress/Ngoc Thanh Several generations of my family have lived on this … [Read more...] about Hanoi and its urban planning problems
Vietnamese beauty queen meets global stars at Milan Fashion Week
The Vietnamese beauty queen (L) wore a Moschino brown-toned outfit set to the brand’s show at Milan Fashion Week last week. She completed her look with a big necklace. She met and talked with Miss Univers e 2015 Pia Wurtzbach, who donned an elegant sequin dress to the show. Giang sat at the show’s front row along with Chinese singer-actress Yu Shuxin (second from L) and Vietnamese fashionista Quynh Anh Shyn (far R). Vietnamese beauty queen meets global stars at Milan Fashion Week Hương Giang dự show Xuân Hè 2024 của Moschino Giang poses at Moschino’s show at Milan Fashion Week. Giang added touches of her strong personality to her look with a wet look hairstyle. For her accessories, she chose a brown belt, a ton-sur-ton handbag, and 20-centimeter platform heels. Giang also met Filipino actress Heart Evangelista. She took a photo … [Read more...] about Vietnamese beauty queen meets global stars at Milan Fashion Week
Vietnam news in brief – September 26
Check out the latest news about Vietnam. European Commission to inspect IUU fishing in Vietnam A delegation from the European Commission (EC) will visit Vietnam on October 10-18 to work with Vietnamese authorities on efforts to prevent illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing , the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said on September 25. A high-level dialogue session between the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the EC working group will take place on October 18, 2023 to discuss the findings of the inspection. Delegates attend the opening ceremony of the Vietnamese Goods Week in Paris. Photo: VNA Vietnamese products promoted at Frech Système U supermarket chain A delegation of 15 Vietnamese enterprises in agriculture, food, and textile industries are promoting their products at the Système U supermarket chain in France as part of the Vietnamese Goods Week in France. The event was inaugurated on September 25 in … [Read more...] about Vietnam news in brief – September 26
Nha Trang promises to be a city of cinema tourism
If proper efforts are made, using film to promote tourism in Nha Trang might be successful. The coastal province of Khanh Hoa is like a miniature Vietnam, with diverse cultures, natural conditions and historical buildings. In addition, Khanh Hoa hosts popular film festivals and events that bring together actors and directors from other countries, boosting tourism and becoming an attractive destination like Cannes in France, Busan in South Korea, and Hollywood in the US. Do Le Hung Tu, Chairman of the Vietnam Film Association, shared the view following the success of the 2023 edition of the Golden Kite Film Award , which ended this month. The aerial view of Nha Trang City. Photo: Khanh Hoa Tourism Department Echoing Tu, Ta Quang Dong, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism said the Golden Kite Film Award is a great opportunity for experts and managers to work together and create new cultural projects to make Khanh Hoa's Nha Trang City a popular … [Read more...] about Nha Trang promises to be a city of cinema tourism
Vietnamese enterprises regain growth momentum
Many enterprises in Vietnam’s key export sectors are back on track as their orders have increased after a sharp decline several months ago, while certain tech firms have reported positive growth in international markets. Nguyen Van Trung, a representative of a company specializing in exporting agricultural products in the south, said mango, longan, dragon fruit, and durian exports to Australia and the U.S. have surged thanks to better preservation technology. The U.S. has resumed the import of Vietnam’s fresh coconuts, Trung added. Chanh Thu Company in southern Ben Tre Province also ships pomelos stateside and recorded growth. Vietnam will export this kind of fruit to China through official channels in the near future, according to Ngo Tuong Vy, CEO of Chanh Thu. Meanwhile, Nguyen Dinh Tung, general director of Vina T&T Group, pinned high hopes on durian exports for the rest of the year. “At present, only some 300 million Chinese consumers can access durians. With more … [Read more...] about Vietnamese enterprises regain growth momentum