Introduction to the Minitrack on Engaging Artificial Intelligence and Digital Humans in the Entertainment Industry

In this minitrack, we feature two accepted papers that provide unique perspectives on the role of AI and digital humans in the entertainment industry. The first paper, "What Do You Feel about an AI Singer Created by Generative AI? Exploring Sentiment about an AI Singer from a Dual Realism Perspective", investigates public sentiment toward AI-generated singers. Drawing on the concept of dual realism—form realism (appearance) and behavioral realism (actions)— the authors analyze YouTube comments on AI singers. Their findings highlight that AI singers evoke mixed emotional responses, with initial skepticism gradually giving way to acceptance over time. The study sheds light on how realism in digital performers influences audience perception and explores the implications for human-AI collaboration in entertainment. The second paper, "Spillover Effect of AIGenerated Voice in Video Dissemination and Engagement: Evidence from Bilibili", explores the impact of AI-generated voices on video platforms. Analyzing 129 videos from the Chinese platform Bilibili, the authors employ a panel vector autoregressive model to study how AI-generated voice affects video dissemination and audience engagement. Their findings reveal that while AI-generated voice enhances production efficiency, it is less effective than human voiceovers in fostering audience engagement. The study underscores the trade-offs between efficiency and emotional resonance in content creation and offers valuable insights for creators and platform developers on optimizing their use of AI tools. These studies contribute to understanding the evolving role of AI and digital humans in content creation, audience engagement, and the broader dynamics of the entertainment industry.