Are AI Powered Virtual Hosts The Future of Live Streaming?

With the rise in the power of AI, let’s take a look at the benefits of AI virtual hosts compared to real human hosts, and how this might impact the future of live streaming events. 

Benefits of Real Hosts 

Live streams are often led by a host who is able to direct conversation, monitor discussion, and drive towards the aim of the stream. With this in mind, the host is able to adapt to the purpose of the event. Take online casinos, for example. Many online casinos now provide online blackjack live dealer games such as Live All Bets Blackjack, Infinite Blackjack, and Live Quantum Blackjack Plus. In these applications, the host of the live stream is effectively the dealer of the game, allowing players who have virtually joined the table to experience authentic and human-driven gameplay. 

In this sense, the host not only leads the event, but is also the driving force behind the gameplay itself, dealing the cards to the virtual players. In addition, the host is able to facilitate conversations between real players in real time, allowing for authentic human connections to be made. 

Similar can be said for hosts of webinars or virtual conferences. The host is in charge of ensuring discussions are on track, panels run on time, and encourage conversations around the material. In other words, it provides a human element to the otherwise virtual experience, crossing the bridge between attendees and the people you see on screen.

Developments in AI 

Although the benefits of real hosts is that they bring that human connection, this is one of the key downsides for businesses. We have to have downtime to eat and sleep after all! On the other hand, AI virtual hosts can work 24/7, allowing international businesses to operate live stream events at many different times to suit their intended clientele. This is one of the reasons why AI virtual hosts have boomed in China’s e-commerce streaming market over the past few years. 

AI virtual hosts will typically have a larger initial cost to businesses as they will have to purchase the software and integrate it into their live streaming systems. That said, over time, this can be much more cost effective. Instead of having to pay real hosts for every live stream, you’ll only need to pay AI virtual hosts once, making for lower overall campaign costs in the long run.

Last, but not least, AI virtual hosts should not succumb to human error. Whereas real hosts might ‘um’ and ‘err’, mispeak, or lose their place in their notes, AI hosts are consistent and reliable – but, of course, the downside to this is that they are predictable. 

The Future of Live Streaming 

Although developments in AI have escalated in recent years, research into consumer attitudes has found that people respond better to other humans than AI. In particular, this study found that consumers need to empathize with the person that they are interacting with, and so tend to end conversations with AI quicker than humans.  

However, this does not necessarily mean that people won’t learn to empathize with AI in the future, particularly those who are high in anthropomorphism. With this in mind, only time will tell as to the extent AI virtual hosts will be accepted by people in different applications and industries.