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
Lotte world in south korea
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’
Samsung supports local businesses building smart factories
Workers check a production line at the Trung Nam Electronic Manufacturing Services in Đà Nẵng's Information Technology Park. Samsung group will support two businesses to build smart factories in Đà Nẵng City. — Photo courtesy of Quang Huy Samsung Việt Nam will help two businesses – Trung Nam Group and Tân Long Paper and Package Company – build the first smart factories in the central city as it nears the target of making it a ‘smart and green’ urban area. The city’s trade and industry department said the plan is part of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by Samsung Việt Nam, the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the city’s department. Samsung will survey the two factories for options of applying smart production lines and management from September to December of 2023. Last year, Trung Nam Group, in cooperation with Xelex Corporation, rolled off the first production lines locally-made Xelex tablets at the Trung Nam Electronic Manufacturing Services in Đà Nẵng's … [Read more...] about Samsung supports local businesses building smart factories
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
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
Philippine Coast Guard says ‘successfully removes’ barrier at disputed reef
The statement was issued hours after Philippine National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano vowed to take "all appropriate actions" for the removal of barriers installed by the Chinese coast guard at Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea. A 300-meter (328-yard) long floating barrier was found across the entrance of the shoal last week during a routine government resupply mission to Filipino fishermen plying the waters near the reef. It was not clear from the Philippine statement if the entire barrier had been removed from the water. A video released by the Philippine Coast Guard showed a man wearing a mask, snorkel and fins using a knife to sever a rope attached to white buoys. Another video showed an anchor being hauled from the water into a wooden outrigger boat. The coast guard announced it had "successfully" removed the barrier "in compliance with presidential instruction." "The barrier posed a hazard to navigation, a clear violation of international law," it added. … [Read more...] about Philippine Coast Guard says ‘successfully removes’ barrier at disputed reef
CPFoods launches first Chickita restaurant in the north
On September 22, Montri Suwanposri, C.P. Vietnam's CEO and president, attended the launch ceremony at Lotte Mall West Lake Hanoi. Other guests included Praween Wirotpan, chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Vietnam, Oranus Watthayanon, minister counsellor of the Thai Embassy in Vietnam, Wirat Wongpornpakdee, senior vice president of C.P. Vietnam, and Asif Haneef Mehrudeen, founder of the Chickita brand. Chickita boasts flame-grilled chicken with eight unique Asian sauces and special recipes. The chicken comes from C.P. Vietnam's farms and retains the natural smoky flavour of grilled chicken. The restaurant operates on the from-farm-to-table philosophy, bringing attractive dishes to diners. Mehrudeen highlighted that the restaurant's outstanding feature is that all the chickens are raised on brown rice, drinking clean water and running in the gardens in Binh Phuoc province without the use of any growth stimulants. "Therefore, the chicken has a higher protein … [Read more...] about CPFoods launches first Chickita restaurant in the north
PM receives leaders of Communist Party of Brazil, friendship association
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) and President of the Communist Party of Brazil Luciana Santos. (Photo: VNA) Brasilia (VNA) – Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh hosted a reception for President of the Communist Party of Brazil Luciana Santos and its leadership in Brasilia on September 24 as part of his official visit to the South American country. Hailing the Communist Party of Brazil’s achievements and positive role in the country’s politics, PM Chinh affirmed that the Vietnamese Party, Government and people always bear in mind and respect the Brazilian people, the Communist Party of Brazil, left-wing forces, and peace lovers' sentiments and valuable support for and assistance to the Vietnamese people during their past struggle for national liberation as well as the curent cause of national construction and protection. Amidst complicated and unpredictable developments in the world, Vietnam advocates promoting global solidarity as well as heightening multilateralism, … [Read more...] about PM receives leaders of Communist Party of Brazil, friendship association
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