MIRAI: AI-driven Web3 virtual human ecosystem

At the intersection of currently popular tracks, the MIRAI project has emerged. This innovative attempt, which integrates elements of internet celebrity virtual idols, AI, and Web3, has recently attracted widespread attention. The project raised approximately $12.9 million in just one week, setting a new fundraising record for Japanese Web3 projects. Subsequently, MIRAI entered the incubation section of a certain trading platform, further enhancing its visibility. To expand its influence, the project team is also actively engaging with multiple popular communities.

MIRAI is a Web3 experiment of virtual personas aimed at bringing CGI virtual characters into the blockchain world. The project combines professional experience in CGI modeling and character design with blockchain infrastructure and AI technology, dedicated to creating virtual characters with autonomy and intelligent agency capabilities.

Can this project full of hot elements truly achieve innovative breakthroughs? Let us delve into the team and technology behind it.

Aww: Pioneer of Virtual Human Technology in Asia

Aww Inc. was founded in 2019 and is headquartered in Tokyo. It is the first company in Asia focused on "virtual human" technology. They combine 3DCG, artificial intelligence, and real-time streaming to provide highly realistic digital characters for brand marketing, content creation, and metaverse applications. The company not only offers technology licensing but also promotes global IP co-creation based on real-time streaming, content, and AI.

Aww Inc. has achieved diversified revenue through global licensing and brand collaborations. The most representative among them is the virtual model imma. As of the end of 2024, imma has nearly one million followers on social media. Due to her unique image, imma has become a leading "virtual influencer" in the fashion and business fields, serving as a digital ambassador for several internationally renowned brands.

In the fields of sports and culture, imma has also made a remarkable appearance. She participated in the closing ceremony of the Tokyo 2021 Paralympic Games, becoming the first virtual character to appear in a series of Paralympic events. In April this year, at the opening ceremony of the Osaka Kansai Expo, imma served as the host as a "Special Support Ambassador."

In terms of technological research and development, Aww Inc. has established a strategic partnership with a semiconductor giant, integrating AI audio-driven technology with GPU acceleration capabilities to enhance real-time emotional interaction and speech lip-syncing of virtual characters. In the future, Aww plans to continue expanding its IP lineup, providing a complete virtual human solution for various industries, ranging from advertising endorsements to immersive metaverse experiences.

From Web2 to Web3: The Birth of MIRAI

Three years ago, Takayuki Sengoku, co-founder of Aww Inc., expressed concern about the impact of community culture formed by blockchain on individuals' futures. Today, this idea has officially materialized through the MIRAI project. MIRAI is jointly created by Aww Inc. and a Solana ecosystem AI platform, aiming to establish the first "virtual idol + Web3 autonomous co-creation" ecosystem.

In terms of project empowerment, Aww Inc. provides core support through its advantages in IP operation and community operation accumulated over many years in the Web2 world. Meanwhile, partners inject the "intelligent agent + decentralization" power into the project through their underlying technology and on-chain infrastructure.

According to the project roadmap, MIRAI will launch several core tools and services in the coming quarters, including a next-generation content creation platform, real-time interactive live streaming features, and a complete DAO governance platform. These features will provide full-stack technical support for virtual human content production, interactive experiences, and ecological expansion.

Innovations and Challenges of MIRAI

MIR envisions an AI-driven virtual character that is tied to a blockchain identity system. This model enables the virtual character to make autonomous decisions, interact with the community, and receive incentives through a token economy. The project allows the community to serve as co-creators and co-governors of the character, jointly determining the storyline development and IP derivative direction. This mechanism is similar to "content is mining," encouraging users to mine economic value with creativity and labor.

However, innovation also comes with many challenges. In terms of token economics, the distribution of MIRAI tokens has a high concentration issue, which may lead to a highly centralized governance. In addition, the phased release of liquidity pools may also cause price fluctuations.

In terms of community operation, decentralized co-creation can stimulate vitality, but it also brings management challenges: the quality of user-generated content varies, which may affect the consistency and recognizability of the IP. The success of virtual idols requires continuous quality content and trending topics to support them. Once there is a lack of innovation or a decline in attention, the characters may quickly lose their appeal.

Overall, MIRAI is pioneering in the integration of AI virtual idols and blockchain, injecting new ideas into Web3 content creation and the IP economy. However, whether it can truly achieve its expected goals still depends on the reasonable design of the token economy, the improvement of community governance mechanisms, and the continuous innovation and value maintenance capability of virtual characters. Only under the premise of the maturity of both technology and mechanisms can MIRAI become a successful example of the "virtual human + decentralized economy" model.