With the widespread application of virtual digital human technology in live streaming, entertainment, and commercial fields, Alibaba recently released a brand-new 3D digital human framework—Mnn3dAvatar. This provides developers with powerful real-time facial capture and 3D virtual character generation tools. Thanks to its efficiency and ease of use, this project is expected to bring revolutionary changes to scenarios such as live commerce and virtual displays. Below, AIbase will provide you with a detailed analysis of this cutting-edge technology.

What is Mnn3dAvatar?

Mnn3dAvatar is a brand-new 3D digital human framework developed based on Alibaba's lightweight deep learning inference framework MNN (Mobile Neural Network). Unlike traditional Live2D technology, Mnn3dAvatar focuses on real-time facial capture and animation mapping for 3D virtual characters. It can synchronously map users' facial expressions onto 3D virtual characters in real time, presenting more stereoscopic and realistic effects.

Science Fiction Digital Human (2)

Image source note: Image generated by AI, image authorization service provider Midjourney

More excitingly, this framework not only supports real-time facial capture but also helps developers quickly generate 3D virtual characters. This means that even without complex modeling experience, developers can easily create high-quality 3D digital human models through Mnn3dAvatar, providing more possibilities for content creation and commercial applications.

Technical Highlights: Efficient, Lightweight, Multi-platform

Based on the powerful performance of the MNN framework, Mnn3dAvatar has the following core advantages:

Real-time facial capture: Through deep learning algorithms, Mnn3dAvatar can accurately capture user facial expressions and map them to 3D virtual characters with low latency, suitable for high-real-time scenarios such as live streaming and virtual meetings.

Lightweight deployment: Thanks to the optimization of the MNN framework, Mnn3dAvatar can efficiently run on various devices including mobile phones and PCs without relying on high-end hardware, reducing development barriers.

Multi-modal support: In addition to facial capture, Mnn3dAvatar also supports multiple task types, such as text generation and image generation, providing flexible development interfaces for developers.

Open-source ecosystem: As part of Alibaba's open-source ecosystem, Mnn3dAvatar provides rich APIs and tools, allowing developers to easily integrate it into applications on platforms like Android and iOS.

According to public information, Mnn3dAvatar has been validated in multiple internal scenarios at Alibaba, such as live streaming and short video functions in Taobao and Youku, demonstrating its stability and efficiency in actual commercial scenarios.

Application Scenarios: From Live Commerce to Virtual Displays

The release of Mnn3dAvatar brings new possibilities to multiple industries, especially showing remarkable performance in the following scenarios:

Live commerce: Through real-time facial capture technology, broadcasters can transform into 3D virtual characters for live streaming, increasing fun and interactivity while reducing reliance on real-person appearances. This is suitable for e-commerce platforms to create differentiated content.

Virtual displays and entertainment: Mnn3dAvatar can be used in virtual idols, game character animations, and virtual meetings, providing users with immersive visual experiences.

Education and training: Educational institutions can create virtual lecturers using 3D digital humans to enhance the interactivity and appeal of online courses.

It is worth mentioning that the 3D character generation function of Mnn3dAvatar greatly reduces the threshold for content creation. Whether for small and medium-sized enterprises or independent developers, they can quickly build virtual characters using this framework and apply them in brand marketing and virtual customer service fields.

Another Major Work of Alibaba's Open-source Ecosystem

As an important part of Alibaba's open-source strategy, the release of Mnn3dAvatar further enriches the functions of the MNN ecosystem. Since its open-source launch in 2019, the MNN framework has been widely applied in over 70 scenarios including Taobao, Tmall, and DingTalk, covering live streaming, short videos, search recommendations, and more. The launch of Mnn3dAvatar not only demonstrates Alibaba's deep accumulation in deep learning and digital human technology but also provides global developers with an excellent opportunity to explore 3D digital human applications.

In addition, Alibaba's Tongyi Lab recently released another 3D digital human generation model called LAM (Live Avatar Model), which supports generating interactive 3D digital humans from a single image within seconds, showcasing Alibaba's continuous innovation in the digital human field.

Futuristic Vision: The Commercialization Wave of Digital Human Technology

With the rise of virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and the metaverse concepts, 3D digital human technology is becoming a focal point in the industry. The open-sourcing of Mnn3dAvatar provides developers with cost-effective and efficient solutions, accelerating the popularization of digital human technology in commercial scenarios. Whether it's innovative models for live commerce or the creation of virtual idols, Mnn3dAvatar provides strong technical support for content creators and businesses.

AIbase believes that the release of Mnn3dAvatar is not only an important expansion of Alibaba's open-source ecosystem but also marks the advancement of 3D digital human technology towards a more inclusive and diverse new stage. In the future, as more developers join this ecosystem, 3D digital humans will display their infinite potential in more fields.

AIbase Conclusion

The open-sourcing of Mnn3dAvatar has opened up a new situation for the popularization of 3D digital human technology. Whether it's creative upgrades for live commerce or immersive experiences for virtual displays, this framework provides powerful tool support for developers.

Project address: https://github.com/alibaba/MNN/blob/master/apps/Android/Mnn3dAvatar/README.md