China’s Kuaishou lures overseas users with ‘NSFW’ AI companions
The FantaSay service promises an ‘ultimate immersive chat experience’ with a variety of AI avatars
Kuaishou formally launched its AI companion service, FantaSay, through its Singapore unit, Symphony Tech, last month, after a trial run that began in February. The service promises an “ultimate immersive chat experience” with a “variety of fascinating AI companions”. It has garnered as many as 500,000 downloads, according to mobile analytics firm Sensor Tower.
AI companions are systems designed to simulate humanlike interactions, offering users personalised emotional connections, often with adult-themed content. Many of the AI companions on FantaSay have sexual elements, with some characters engaging in explicit conversations, according to a review by the Post.
Several Chinese start-ups have launched AI companion apps targeting overseas users, including Shanghai-based MiniMax’s Talkie, Beijing-based PolyBuzz and Chongqing-based HiWaifu.
About one-third of the world’s 21 most popular AI companion apps originate from China, according to Beluga Global, a platform that helps Chinese internet firms expand globally.
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Kuaishou holds an advantage with its in-house AI agent development platform, Keloi, which was detailed in a sales brochure circulated by its affiliate, Beijing Qingque, last month. International users showed a “strong willingness” to pay for NSFW content, according to the brochure.