A.I.Channel

Kizuna AI (Japanese: キズナアイ; AI Kizuna in non-Japanese order) is a Japanese virtual YouTuber and self-proclaimed artificial intelligence. As of 2024, under management by Kizuna AI Inc,https://kizunaai.com/en/biography/ and voiced by Kasuga Nozomi,https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Nozomi-Kasuga/ she operates as a host on three YouTube channels, A.I.Channel, A.I.Games and A.I.Channel China. Kizuna claims to be the world's first Virtual YouTuber,https://otakumode.com/otapedia/creator/vtuber/kizuna_ai though the first channel to use a CG avatar for vlogging purposes on YouTube was the channel of English-Japanese Ami Yamato, who debuted her first video on 2011.
On 29 November 2016, Kizuna started posting videos on her first YouTube channel, "A.I.Channel".https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EoPFGj3uuYo A second channel, "A.I. Games" was opened in March 2017 for gaming-related content.https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbFwe3COkDrbNsbMyGNCsDg/about A third channel, "A.I.Channel China", launched in June 2019 for a Chinese audience.https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCArUdy5xj0i0cTuhPHRVMpw/about
Kizuna's video content prior to her indefinite hiatus in February 2022, is similar to many other YouTubers, consisting primarily of discussions,https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COXCojRKbk8 Q&A videos,https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cuEp2PrfE-g and more traditional "Let's Play" videos.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZBFiVSqGxM Kizuna has also performed at the various Anime Conventionshttps://animenyc.com/guests-nyc/2019kizunaai/https://www.anime-expo.org/2023/04/27/neon-district-returns-ax-2023/ and has also worked with many game companies.https://asobimo.com/corporate_us/?p=14354
On February 24, 2022, after the "hello world 2022" live concert tour, Kizuna AI went on an indefinite hiatus as her company began their focus on the series of new future projects under the branding of "hello world".https://www.dexerto.com/entertainment/kizuna-ai-worlds-first-vtuber-indefinite-hiatus-1771512/ Her main channel remains intermittently active as of 2024.
==Production==
Kizuna is an online virtual character entirely constructed using the software. As the identities of producers in the background are not revealed, video animators, producers, video editors, voice actors, and players of games are unknown.https://otakumode.com/otapedia/vocaloid/hatsune_miku/kizuna_ai
However, the videos have maintained a high production standard in aspects such as character design, multi-directional editing, and movement handling, far exceeding the level of hobbyists.
Kizuna's YouTube channels are thought to be managed by an entire production crew, and the choice to remain anonymous comes from the wish to keep the concept of a virtual idol intact, though this has caused speculations regarding the operation crew and technology. one of which is that Kizuna was created using the , and given facial expression and actions using motion capture technology.https://nshelton.github.io/home/kizuna/ Tokyo-based digital production company Activ8 produces Kizuna's videos.https://globalbrains.com/en/posts/invested-in-activ8
All crew members known so far to be involved in Kizuna's design are already well known. These include Morikura En in character design, Tomitake in 3D modeling, and Tda in modeling supervision. Morikura is an artist well known for illustrating artworks. Tomitake has designed many 3D models and works alongside Tda, an expert in the MikuMikuDance 3D modeling field.https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/30262
Kizuna is thought to be played by a professional actress, though her identity is not publicly known. No one has publicly claimed to be her voice actor, and there are no plans to announce any information on the topic publicly. It is speculated that Kizuna's voice and motion capture are provided by the same person, as they are in sync with each other. Cristina Vee voiced Kizuna's cameo appearance in episode 9 of Ingress in the English dub.https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2583829/fullcredits In 2019, Kasuga Nozomi disclosed her role on her Twitter account as the voice model of Kizuna AI and the advisor of the new company called Kizuna AI Inc., which formally began operations on May 11, 2020.https://twitter.com/aichan_nel/status/1253660164961361925
===Personality===
Kizuna is aware that she is a virtual character, and claims that she is an independent artificial intelligence (Hence the name; Kizuna A.I).https://www.reddit.com/r/VirtualYoutubers/comments/7v0a84/i_kind_of_know_how_the_kizuna_ai_thing_works/ The central concept of a role in a virtual setting was created through Kizuna, so she is publicly recognized as the world's first "virtual YouTube user." An October 2018 article from BBC Capital noted a Mattel advertisement campaign for Barbie in 2015 with the same concept.https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20181002-the-virtual-vloggers-taking-over-youtube
In her first video, Kizuna introduces herself. Apart from the general meaning of "artificial intelligence," "AI" is also a pun on the Japanese word "愛," meaning "love." Kizuna is designed as a young and beautiful 2.5D animated girl with moe elements, which attracts many YouTube users. Kizuna's appearance age is roughly 16 years old, though she revealed that she is only five, with her birthday on the 30th of June. She has a height of 156 cm, a weight of roughly 46 kg, and her three measurements are 85-59-83.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NasyGUeNMTs
Kizuna's overall appearance uses a pink and white color palette. She has long flowing hair, coupled with a futuristic gradient hair dye of pink. She wears a wobbly pink hairband with a butterfly knot. The hairband has a double-leaf heart-shaped design, corresponding to the word "Ai," meaning "love," in her name. 
Kizuna's sleeveless white top brings about a futuristic feel as well. It is designed to emphasize her back and body, as well as to make her appear slimmer. Embroidered above her chest is the letter "A." Her arm sleeves and thigh highs are decorated with lace, while her thigh highs and shorts form an "absolute territory."
Kizuna is a massive fan of "Love Live!" and "Love Live! School Idol Festival;" her favorite character is Nico Yazawa. During an interview with PANORA, Kizuna mentioned that she pays close attention to idol groups such as Keyakizaka46 and Nogizaka46.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=up3W6vwnqWE Kizuna likes how idols follow their dreams, just like herself. In her character design, she also likes to spend time in virtual space playing video games.
===Activities===
:In progress
The YouTube channel, "A.I.Channel" was created on 18 October 2016, though Kizuna only started posting videos on 29 November 2016. She creates, designs, and hosts a series of videos with a mix of wacky and serious elements. These videos are designed to break the boundaries between virtual and real spaces and involves activities such as television-like show-hosting and virtual reality.
In January 2017, Kizuna joked that because her clothes are merely holographic projections, she is technically always naked. YouTube detected the use of the word "naked" and decided that the video contained inappropriate content, so "A.I.Channel" was banned.https://www.kotaku.com.au/2017/03/popular-new-youtuber-also-happens-to-be-virtual-anime-girl/ The material had to be posted on another video sharing site, Niconico. After several weeks, the channel was unbanned in February.
By the end of March, Kizuna had already uploaded more than 60 videos. "A.I.Channel" had exceeded 200,000 subscribers and 5 million comments. On 31 March, Kizuna even started releasing gaming content on a new channel named "A.I.Games". "A.I.Games" was blocked for unknown reasons on 17 April but was unblocked and resumed posting videos within a day.https://twitter.com/aichan_nel/status/853892948697600000
"A.I.Channel" reached 2 million subscribers on 15 July 2018.https://web.archive.org/web/20190118171218/https://socialblade.com/youtube/channel/UC4YaOt1yT-ZeyB0OmxHgolA/monthlyhttps://www.konvoy.vc/content/virtual-characters-and-live-streaming "A.I.Games" also reached 1 million subscribers on 14 August 2018.https://web.archive.org/web/20190712025450/https://socialblade.com/youtube/channel/UCbFwe3COkDrbNsbMyGNCsDg/monthly
===Other activities===
Apart from her YouTube channels and official website, Kizuna has also created Twitter and Instagram accounts to facilitate interaction with fans. She also holds limited-time events occasionally, such as a Valentine's Day chocolate giveaway in 2017.https://web.archive.org/web/20190111232547/http://kizunaai.com/happy_valentines/
Kizuna accepted an interview by PANORA, a website focusing on the topic of virtual reality. The discussion was divided into four parts and posted on Kizuna AI's official website.https://www.youtube.com/playlist?app=desktop&list=PLe2EQC4lxVWUDJaajfL9zM4cr-aFxU527 Then, on 25 and 26 March 2017, Kizuna performed and then interacted with fans live on the stage of AnimeJapan.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHdvuHJiFKE
In April 2017, a collaboration between Kizuna and Japanese video game development company Asobimo was announced.https://avabelonline.com/information/detail/?information_id=3578 On the newly-created "A.I.Games" channel, Kizuna would periodically post videos of her doing commentary while playing Avabel Online, an MMORPG designed by Asobimo for smartphones. Kizuna would also appear directly in the game.
Kizuna is the ambassador for one of the Japan National Tourism Organization's Come to Japan campaign. She has also hosted a television variety show titled Kizuna AI no BEAT Scramble (キズナアイのBEATスクランブル Kizuna AI no BEAT Sukuranburu), which aired on Japan's BS NTV channel from 6 April 2018.https://www.facebook.com/KizunaAI0630/videos/my-television-program-that-started-in-aprilbeat-scramble-of-kizuna-ai-is-this-ti/988007981377863/ She also voiced Website Manager Hachi in the anime television series Magical Girl Site, which aired from the same day.https://myanimelist.net/character/160327
To celebrate reaching 2 million subscribers on "A.I.Channel" on 15 July 2018, Kizuna released her first Eurodance digital single Hello,Morning.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4byaJ9w47uU
On 1 March 2019, Dutch music duo W&W released a song called The Light in which Kizuna features as a vocalist and as a dancer.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtU_sb4jYE8
On 6 November 2020, she appeared as herself in series 2, episode 4 of the Australian web series Meta Runner. In the episode, she is a guide for "Pocket Gakusei", an in-universe online anime dating simulator.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uL0gpJ3qV54
====Kizuna no Allele====
In February 2022, shortly before her indefinite hiatus, Kizuna AI announced that an anime project was in production.https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2022-02-26/vtuber-kizuna-ai-gets-anime-project-and-ai-spinoff/.183025 The anime project was later confirmed to be a television series titled Kizuna no Allele.https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2022-11-11/kizuna-ai-anime-reveals-kizuna-no-allele-title-2023-tv-premiere/.191787 The first season premiered on April 4, 2023 on TV Tokyo and other networks, before ending on June 20th.https://myanimelist.net/anime/51139/Kizuna_no_Allele The series is produced by Wit Studio and Signal.MD and directed by Kenichiro Komaya, with Deko Akao writing the scripts, Shiori Asaka and Niina Morita designing the characters and serving as chief animation directors alongside Mizuki Takahashi and Go Sakabe composing the music.https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=26556
A second season was announced after the first season finale was aired; it was broadcast from October 5 until December 21, 2023.https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=28790
===Videos===
On average, Kizuna's videos are about 10 minutes long. Video content includes chatting,https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gE8n1MkAogE answering questions,https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLCpn7M3zA4 fulfilling requests,https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-w7wyMkqkA interviews,https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzumpSlKfS0 "Let's Plays,"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AK24prZk-k dancing,https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R94RAHTEHG0 challenges,https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9QPM81oibA and drawing.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YO7n_qaQJUA She has discussed artificial intelligence,https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAuOjG4L1Ng virtual reality,https://www.facebook.com/KizunaAI0630/videos/kizuna-ais-first-vr-rhythm-game-kizuna-ai-touch-the-beat/323755392040357/ and how she wants a Wikipedia page dedicated to herself.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7Du_Yw7hZU
===Games===
Kizuna often posts videos of herself giving commentaries while playing games on YouTube. As a virtual Let's Play show host, Kizuna's game operating techniques seem a little clumsy, though, like other gaming YouTubers, she makes seemingly real comments and reactions to the games that she likes. The most viewed and most popular gaming video by Kizuna is her Let's Play of mobile game Happy Glass.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-p_wUW6AUo
Some of Kizuna's videos involve augmented and virtual reality games. With him using omnidirectional motion capture technology, a 3D model of Kizuna playing a game can be developed.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1US1KLD94rY Virtual reality games played by Kizuna include first-person shooter game Superhot,https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRwgmjn-8mE drawing software Tilt Brush,https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkknXGYLZjg and more. Kizuna has also attempted to describe English words in Quick, Draw!, explore Tokyo virtually using Google Maps,https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulbiRn-0saU and talk with other AI such as Apple's iPhone assistant Siri.
===Subtitles===
The language used in all of Kizuna's videos is Japanese. This made it difficult for a large portion of viewers to understand the specific content of videos. Afterward, "A.I.Channel" and "A.I.Games" allowed bilingual fans to translate Japanese in videos to other languages. With the help of translations offered by fans, Kizuna's channels were able to provide content in many different languages, including Japanese, English, Korean, Spanish, and many others.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlJ5Trq4w0k (Example of a video using English and Spanish subtitles)
===Impact===
Kizuna, also known, "Ai-chan" among her fans, is the spearhead of the Virtual YouTuber trend.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sm0WPGfg-L4 (An example of a video showing the word "Ai-chan") Kevin Allocca, YouTube's head of cultural trends, singled out the meteoric growth of A.I. Channel over ten months as an example of the growth of virtual personalities on the platform. Allocca also noted that the trend's popularity was mostly contained in Japan. Character designs such as Kizuna are seen as a revolutionary concept and could be the precursor of a new trend in virtual reality, virtual YouTube users and live-streamers.
Tubefilter writer Sam Gutelle thinks that even though characters like Kizuna may be seen as oddities now, they will become more common in the future.https://amplify.nabshow.com/articles/connect-real-world-vtubers/ The Verge columnist Rich McCormick feels that Kizuna is different from other content creators as she can technically play games as long as she wants without the need for food and sleep.https://www.theverge.com/2017/3/21/14994816/animated-vlogger-ai-kizuna-youtube-lets-play This will bring channels more flexibility, and these types of videos may even be the future of YouTube. The BBC thinks that the selling point of virtual characters is that they are not like other YouTubers, as their appearance will never age, and related development is still in its beginning stages.
===Fandom activities===
On 25 December 2016, Kizuna's producers decided to put up her MikuMikuDance 3D model for free download and edits on her official site.https://web.archive.org/web/20180219181257/https://kizunaai.com/download-page/ This was to allow interested fans to produce doujin products. The 3D model can be used in MikuMikuDance, Unity, Unreal Engine, and other spaces. The developers even made the model compatible with virtual reality. The virtual model is allowed to use in videos and games, but for business purposes, it is required that the developers are contacted. Finally, the use of the model in political, racial, or religious settings or to create other models is prohibited.
==Quotes==
*"Fuck You" / "Fakkyu"https://www.reddit.com/r/VirtualYoutubers/comments/9b93ud/kizuna_ai_fuck_you_compilation_%E3%82%AD%E3%82%BA%E3%83%8A%E3%82%A2%E3%82%A4%E3%81%AE%E3%81%B5%E3%81%81%E3%81%8D%E3%82%85%E3%83%BC%E3%81%BE%E3%81%A8%E3%82%81/
*"But I'm technically senpai"
*"I am the boss"
*"Daaa Yaaa"
*"Fuck you no fuck you"
==Trivia==
*"Ai" (愛) means "love" in Japanese, whereas if placing a period dot between A and I, it means Artificial Intelligence.
*Her character designer is Morikura En.https://twitter.com/morikuraen
==Gallery==
A.i.channel 6.webp|Kizuna AI official concept design (by Morikura En)
A.i.channel 7.webp|Kizuna AI official Model render (by Tomitake)
A.i.channel 8.webp|Kizuna AI official portrait
A.i.channel 9.webp|Kizuna AI second outfit for A.I. Channel
A.i.channel 10.webp|Kizuna AI second outfit for A.I. Games
A.i.channel 11.webp|Kizuna AI 2nd Anniversary outfit (by Morikura En)
A.i.channel 13.webp|Kizuna AI 3rd Anniversary outfit (by Morikura En)
A.i.channel 12.webp|Official Christmas art
A.i.channel 14.webp|With Chinese Installed Kizuna Ai
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A.i.channel 16.webp
A.i.channel 17.webp
A.i.channel 18.webp|Official Art depicting AI wearing Kaguya Luna merch (by Morikura En)
A.i.channel 19.webp|"hello, world" official promo poster
A.i.channel 20.webp|Promotional still for the Nippon TV show Nobangumi
A.i.channel 21.webp|Promotional still for Bourbon's Cheese Okaki campaign
A.i.channel 22.webp|Promotional still for Nissin's Cup Noodles campaign
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A.I.channel4a.gif|From her cover of Envy Baby
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==References==
Category:Anime YouTubers
Category:Gaming YouTubers
Category:Music YouTubers
Category:Japanese YouTubers
Category:Users who joined in 2016
Category:One million subscribers
Category:Two million subscribers