Baidu used an AI avatar of Chinese influencer Yonghao Luo for a livestream last week and hit 13 million views and $7.5 million in sales.
The digital Luo was built on Baidu’s ERNIE models to interact live with another avatar and viewers. The avatars made eye contact, cracked jokes, and spoke in sync — mimicking real hosts.
Baidu said: 
“Yonghao Luo’s digital avatar and a supporting avatar interacted naturally, frequently exchanging punchlines,” according to a Baidu statement. “They exhibited detailed gestures—such as making eye contact and speaking in unison—that mirrored real human hosts, all while engaging with viewers in real time, demonstrating new capabilities for the industry.”
Meanwhile, India’s Telecom Regulatory Authority started a pilot project to track consumer consent for digital marketing messages. It targets spam complaints by verifying opt-ins through banks and telcos. If successful, other sectors will join.
China’s Cyberspace Administration reported taking down 3,500 illegal AI apps and cleaning over 960,000 sources of illegal info in an AI crackdown. About 400 groups now label AI content properly. Tencent and Douyin removed suspect apps and content.
Australia’s Air Force and Boeing demoed drones flying in sync with an airborne E-7A Wedgetail AWACS. The MQ-28 Ghost Bat drones were controlled directly from the plane. Further tests will involve F/A-18F and F-35 jets.
The US Federal Communications Commission warned China Mobile it faces hefty fines for withholding information in a national security probe. China Mobile hasn’t complied with FCC requests dating back to 2022. The agency is gearing up for penalties if cooperation doesn’t improve.
