S<\/b> haring His<\/b>\u00a0Life <\/b>Journey <\/b>Through Another Self to <\/b>Inspire Others<\/b><\/p>\n Tszkin was diagnosed at the age of one and a half with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), a rare disease, and he has relied on a wheelchair for mobility\u00a0since age 9. Now\u00a0at\u00a016, he continues to face life with courage, supported by the constant care of his mother, Ms.\u00a0Michelle Li, and his friends. He has not only pushed his own limits by completing various challenges on land, in the sea, and in the air, but has also\u00a0taken part\u00a0in numerous activities. Through his YouTube channel, “snail tszkin,” and social media platforms, he dedicates himself to sharing his life experiences with the rare disease community and spreading positivity to inspire others within his limited lifetime.<\/p>\n Both the technology and applications of AI virtual humans\u00a0were\u00a0new to Tszkin and his mother\u00a0at first. Through the support and\u00a0referral\u00a0of Dr.\u00a0Eve Wong, the social worker in charge of the “Dreams*2Gather” programme, Tszkin and his mother came across the concept of AI virtual humans and hoped to explore its possibilities to carry on his will and dreams.\u00a0To support their aspiration, Digital Domain is creating a personalized AI virtual human to empower Tszkin to share his life journey, raise awareness of rare diseases, and\u00a0inspire others facing similar challenges.<\/p>\n “The advancement of AI virtual human technology today not only enables the creation of another me, but also\u00a0helps turn limitations into possibilities and let me pursue even more of my dreams,” said Tszkin. “I imagine being able to talk to a version of myself that can walk and run, and take ‘him’ to different places to share my story and present\u00a0him as a role model to bring encouragement and hope to more people. One day, my\u00a0AI virtual human could even carry on my beliefs,\u00a0and continue doing meaningful things to give back to society.”<\/p>\n Leverag<\/b> ing VFX Experience and AI Technology to Recreate a Lifelike Appearance<\/b> <\/p>\n With over 30 years of experience\u00a0in VFX, Digital Domain has combined its expertise in creating photorealistic human faces with advanced 3D scanning technology. This enables the precise capture and recreation of\u00a0Tszkin’s\u00a0facial features and expressions. Additionally, Digital Domain incorporates an AI brain, along with\u00a0voice cloning and speech synthesis technologies,\u00a0to develop the AI virtual\u00a0human of\u00a0Tszkin, which is powered\u00a0by Momentum Cloud, Digital Domain’s real-time control system for virtual humans.<\/p>\n The production team photographed Tszkin from multiple angles to capture facial features, expressions, and every detail. Experiencing the process for the first time, both Tszkin\u00a0and his mother were amazed by the complexity\u00a0involved in creating a virtual human.\u00a0The more detailed the steps, the more lifelike the result.<\/p>\n Ms. Michelle Li recalled her emotional reaction when she first saw the\u00a03D\u00a0model of Tszkin’s virtual human. “The AI virtual human of Tszkin felt\u00a0so real, it was like seeing a dream come to life. It looked exactly like\u00a0the Tszkin\u00a0I see\u00a0in my eyes,” she said. “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to explore this new technology. Tszkin and I hope that the AI virtual human can help present life education and related information in a more approachable way, while also offering emotional and spiritual support to people living with rare diseases or disabilities. As new technologies become\u00a0part of everyday life, AI virtual humans could\u00a0help people better understand them sooner. We\u00a0believe that society\u00a0can benefit from\u00a0companion-like figures like this, which offer positive information and inspiration.”<\/p>\n From<\/b> \u00a0Cared-for to Caregiver<\/b> : AI Virtual Human Opens New <\/b> Possibilities<\/b> <\/p>\n Beyond technological advancement, AI virtual humans can preserve precious memories and emotional bonds. With familiar faces\u00a0and voices, they have the potential to\u00a0bring comfort and companionship, helping friends and family keep their memory alive in a meaningful way.<\/p>\n Ms. Michelle Li\u00a0believes that being able to say goodbye or have conversations with deceased loved ones through an AI virtual human offers positive\u00a0emotional benefits. “Expressing and releasing emotions through an AI virtual human can be somewhat healing. Some might think it prolongs the grieving process,\u00a0but ultimately, it depends on how we choose to understand and engage with\u00a0the technology,” she explained.<\/p>\n Tszkin, who uses the AI virtual human to\u00a0help express his beliefs and continue pursuing his dreams, also thinks it can provide emotional comfort to his mother. “My mom has worked so hard to care for\u00a0me over the years. Now, through the AI virtual human,\u00a0I can shift from being the one cared for to being a caregiver who supports and accompanies my mom. Being able to give back in this way\u00a0means a lot to me.”\u00a0He mentioned that Dr. Eve Wong was introduced to AI technology in their previous projects, which led her to think more deeply about how AI could help achieve more, such as turning a finite life into something with infinite meaning and helping\u00a0more people. “This inspired my mom and me to explore the idea of creating\u00a0an AI virtual human, and we are truly grateful to Dr. Wong and Digital Domain for their support in making this dream come true,”\u00a0he said.<\/p>\n Mr. William Wong, Chief Executive Officer of Digital Domain, stated: “Through advanced AI and virtual human technology, we hope to help more life stories continue and be told in different forms. Creating this personalized\u00a0AI virtual human for Tszkin is more than just a technological breakthrough, it embodies the principle that technology should serve\u00a0humanity, reflecting\u00a0the warmth and care of a human-centered approach. We are truly\u00a0honored to be part of this journey, supporting Tszkin as he continues\u00a0to create endless possibilities for his dreams\u00a0and also advances the positive and diverse\u00a0uses of technology for social good.”<\/p>\n About Digital Domain<\/b> <\/p>\n Digital Domain is a pioneer in creating transportive experiences. After more than three decades of evolution, the company has transitioned from its Hollywood origins to achieve global expansion in areas such as Visual Effects (VFX), AI Virtual Humans, and Visualization technologies. Digital Domain boasts a rich legacy, having contributed to hundreds of films and television series, thousands of commercials, game graphics, and experimental immersive experiences. Some of its most notable accomplishments include winning Academy Awards for “Best Visual Effects” for films like Titanic<\/i>, What Dreams May Come<\/i>, and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button<\/i>, as well as contributing to blockbuster classics such as The Avengers<\/i> series, and the fourth season of the popular series Stranger Things<\/i>.<\/p>\n Digital Domain has charted a pioneering course into the realms of AI and virtual reality since 2016, revolutionizing the creation of emotionally expressive and photorealistic virtual humans in real-time. The company’s AI Virtual Human technology is widely applicable across diverse sectors such as healthcare, elderly service, training and education, concierge service, BFSI, the public sector, entertainment etc. It enhances service efficiency, user experience, and business value.<\/p>\n Since establishing the R&D Center at Hong Kong Science Park in Q4 2024, Digital Domain has been actively collaborating with industry partners, universities, and research institutions to explore opportunities in AI development and digital transformation.<\/p>\n Digital Domain is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (Stock code: 547) and is headquartered in Hong Kong. The company operates in multiple cities, including Los Angeles, Vancouver, Montreal, Beijing, Shanghai, Hyderabad, and more.<\/p>\n![\"Digital](\"https:\/\/mma.prnasia.com\/media2\/2730073\/Digital_Domain_supporting_Tszkin_Chen_creating_personalized_AI_virtual_human.jpg?p=medium600\" "\\"Digital")
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Digital Domain is supporting Tszkin Chen in creating his personalized AI virtual human<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n