Mihoyo's Next Protagonist Is Her, Who Plays the Piano
Mihoyo, widely recognized for its hit game Genshin Impact, has long harbored a grander ambition: creating a virtual world where one billion people would want to live. While its character design is unparalleled, the company recognizes a fundamental limitation—these beloved virtual characters are not truly "alive." Their dialogue and actions are pre-scripted.
This drive for authentic "living" characters has guided Mihoyo's strategic investments in cutting-edge fields like brain-computer interfaces, AI (including an early investment in MiniMax), and nuclear fusion. Following the release of ChatGPT in late 2022, co-founder Cai Haoyu stepped down from management to lead a new overseas AI venture, Anuttacon, focused on creating AI-driven virtual beings.
Mihoyo's path has involved experimentation and iteration. Anuttacon's early project, *Whisper of the Stars*, showcased real-time AI conversation but revealed limitations in underlying language models. The team subsequently focused its resources on developing a sophisticated "emotional" large language model, distinct from purely utilitarian AI. Co-founder Liu Wei (Dawei) announced plans to invest up to 100 billion RMB in this AI pursuit.
The first tangible product of this vision is *BSide: Olivia Lin*, a free Steam application featuring a piano-playing virtual companion. Unlike typical AI chatbots demanding constant interaction, Olivia Lin operates on a slower, more deliberate rhythm—responding to letters, playing user-submitted melodies, and serving as a desktop presence. This design emphasizes "lifelikeness" over exhaustive conversation, strategically working around current technological constraints while building a sense of authentic connection.
The company's journey traces back to its name, "miHoYo," where "mi" pays homage to the virtual singer Hatsune Miku. For nearly two decades, fans have loved Miku, a character unaware of their devotion. Mihoyo's ultimate goal, now backed by massive investment and AI research, is to bridge that gap—to create virtual beings that can truly know they are loved.
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