Virtual Idol MIRAI: An Attempt at the Fusion of Web3 and AI Technology

The MIRAI project has recently attracted widespread attention as it combines three popular fields: virtual idols, AI, and Web3. The project raised approximately $12.9 million in just one week, setting a fundraising record for Japanese Web3 projects. On May 16, MIRAI was launched on a trading platform, further enhancing its visibility. To expand its influence, the project team has also actively interacted with several popular communities.

MIRAI is a project jointly launched by Aww Inc. and a certain blockchain ecological AI platform, positioned as an attempt to introduce virtual personalities into Web3. The project integrates Aww Inc.'s expertise in CG modeling and character design, along with the partner's blockchain infrastructure and AI technology, aiming to create virtual characters with autonomy and intelligent agent capabilities.

Aww Inc. was founded in 2019 and is headquartered in Tokyo. It is the first company in Asia to focus on "virtual human" technology. They are committed to combining 3DCG, artificial intelligence, and real-time streaming to create highly realistic digital characters for brand marketing, content creation, and metaverse applications. The company claims to be the first in Asia to propose the concept of "virtual people" and has launched several virtual characters.

Aww Inc.'s business model includes global licensing and brand collaborations. The most famous of these is the virtual model imma, who debuted in 2018. By the end of 2024, imma has nearly 900,000 followers on Instagram and TikTok. With her unique pink short hair and exquisite CG modeling, imma has become a top "virtual influencer" in the fashion and business sectors, favored by globally renowned brands, serving multiple times as a digital ambassador for high-end fashion brands, and was also a global brand ambassador for a certain technology company's laptop series.

imma is not only active in the business field but also has important performances in sports and cultural activities. She participated in the closing ceremony of the 2021 Tokyo Paralympics, becoming the first virtual person to appear in a Paralympic event. Forbes Poland included imma in the "Women of the Year" list, recognizing her influence in breaking the boundaries between reality and virtuality, and promoting digital creativity. In April 2025, imma also served as the host of the opening ceremony of the Osaka Kansai Expo.

In terms of technology, Aww Inc. has established a strategic partnership with a semiconductor giant to integrate AI audio-driven technology with GPU acceleration capabilities, enhancing real-time emotional interaction and voice lip-syncing for virtual characters. Aww plans to continue expanding its IP portfolio to provide comprehensive virtual human solutions across various industries, from advertising endorsements to immersive metaverse experiences.

Aww Inc. started paying attention to the impact of blockchain technology on community culture three years ago. Today, the launch of the MIRAI project marks the company's official entry into the Web3 space. The name MIRAI means "future" in Japanese, reflecting the company's expectations for the Web3 domain.

The MIRAI project is supported by Aww Inc. for IP operations and community operations, combining the underlying technology and on-chain infrastructure of partners, aiming to create the "first consumer-friendly on-chain AI virtual human infrastructure". The project will launch multiple core tools and services, including a next-generation publishing platform, content creation tools, live streaming features, and multi-chain deployment support, which will be gradually launched in the coming quarters.

The concept of MIRAI is to create a virtual character driven by AI and linked to a blockchain identity system. This model enables the virtual character to make autonomous decisions, interact with the community, and gain incentives through a token economy. The project allows the community to participate in the co-creation and co-governance of the characters, jointly deciding the plot development and IP derivative directions. Users holding tokens can participate in governance, use the character's image for secondary creation, and share the profits, breaking the traditional one-way creation model of virtual IP.

However, the MIRAI project also faces numerous challenges. In terms of token economics, there is a risk of centralization in token distribution, which may lead to overly concentrated governance power. Furthermore, the phased release of a large number of tokens may trigger price fluctuations. On the community operation level, while decentralized co-creation can stimulate vitality, it also brings challenges in managing content quality and maintaining IP consistency.

Overall, MIRAI has innovative significance in the combination of AI virtual idols and blockchain, providing new ideas for Web3 content creation and IP economy. However, its success will depend on the reasonable design of the token economy, the improvement of community governance mechanisms, and the ability to continuously innovate and maintain the value of virtual characters. Only on the foundation of the maturity of both technology and mechanisms can MIRAI truly become a model of the "virtual human + decentralized economy" paradigm.