Interview with MEET48 COO: The High-Stakes Gamble and Ambitions of MEET48's AIUGC Ecosystem, Architecture of AI-LLM and Web5
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Interview with MEET48 COO: The High-Stakes Gamble and Ambitions of MEET48's AIUGC Ecosystem, Architecture of AI-LLM and Web5
Join Kai's sharing to explore the past, present, and future of MEET48 Metaverse.
Navigating Web3 tides with focused insightsAuthor: TechFlow
Although Japan's WebX 2024 has concluded, looking back on the highlights of this grand event, the stunning performance by MEET48’s idols at the official opening party, Fantasy Bullish Night, continues to be widely celebrated.
In many people's stereotypes, Web3 is an obscure space filled with cryptographic jargon. The current reality—strong infrastructure but few applications—has deepened perceptions of Web3 as a castle in the air. As such, in this cycle, users are beginning to demystify infrastructure, the rallying cry "embrace attention" is gaining momentum, and consumer-facing applications are receiving increasing attention. MEET48 is a prime example perfectly aligned with this trend.
At the official WebX opening party, multiple idols who won MEET48’s GIPR2 on-chain voting campaign took the stage, delivering a spectacular audiovisual experience that seamlessly blended Web3 technology with entertainment. Through their music and dance, we witnessed MEET48’s innovation in redefining online-to-offline interactions between idols and fans, and its success in building a fan-driven, decentralized idol development ecosystem and fan economy powered by Web3.
Guided by the performance, approaching the MEET48 booth reveals a clearer picture of an ambitious social metaverse vision encompassing NFTs, gaming, AI-powered UGC content creation:Products like the TON-based cheering mini-game CoinIdols and the AI tool AIShowBox for generating idol avatars and scenes genuinely showcase the potential and possibilities of Web3 technology in entertainment, driving mass adoption of Web3 while leading the public into a new era of digital experiences.
How can Web3 empower the fan economy? How can AIGC lead Gen Z entertainment trends? And what is the ultimate mission of the MEET48 Metaverse?
Motivated by these questions, we had an in-depth conversation with MEET48 COO Kai Xu.Kai expressed great excitement about the upcoming launch of several mini-games:
"User participation is key to retention, and content creation barriers are the core determinant of user engagement in UGC. Our AI SaaS tools allow everyone to easily and affordably create their own virtual performer content via AIShowBox, publish it across social platforms, and participate in voting events on MEET48 to earn rewards and greater returns."
Regarding the final form of the metaverse MEET48 aims to build, Kai further elaborated:
"It will be all-encompassing—a community parallel to and interconnected with the real world, eventually integrating with offline life and industries to attract diverse groups of people."
In this article, let’s follow Kai’s insights to explore the past, present, and future of the MEET48 metaverse.
Idol Fever Sweeps WebX: MEET48 Sets a Benchmark for Web3 Fan Economy
TechFlow: It’s a pleasure to have this opportunity for an in-depth exchange. To begin, could you introduce yourself (including your educational background, relevant industry or entrepreneurial experience, and how you joined MEET48)?
Kai:
Hi everyone, I’m Kai from the MEET48 team. I’m honored to connect with you through TechFlow. Our MEET48 team is diverse—comprising both veterans from traditional entertainment and young talents united by a shared vision in Web3. We bring extensive expertise in artist management, large-scale performances, fan operations, game development, and film production.
I’ve been in media for nearly 20 years, starting at TV stations and film companies. Now, I work alongside our exceptional team to develop and operate MEET48, aiming to deliver breakout product experiences through our synergy.
TechFlow: If you had to describe MEET48 in just one sentence, what would it be?
Kai:
A future entertainment ecosystem for stargazing led and co-created by fans—a decentralized idol cultivation and fan economy ecosystem.
TechFlow: At the recently concluded WebX opening party, MEET48’s girl group delivered an outstanding performance, and fans traveling from around the globe helped amplify the vibrant atmosphere. This overwhelming energy clearly reflects the successful operation of the fan economy under the Web3 model. Behind this success, could you share how Web3 empowers the healthy and sustainable development of the fan economy? As a pioneer integrating fan economy with Web3, what advantages does MEET48 possess that have contributed to its current achievements?
Kai:
MEET48 builds upon a proven and highly successful Web2 model, enhanced with Web3 innovations and technologies that break previous limitations,making star-making more transparent, democratic, and accessible.
In traditional idol cultivation, agencies redistribute revenue from the fan economy without granting fans decision-making power or profit-sharing. But with Web3 mechanics, we integrate fans directly into the operational system, giving them greater voice,while also effectively returning value created by the cultivation process to both idols and fans, significantly enhancing their experience.
TechFlow: We understand that during major events like WebX and the upcoming TOKEN2049 in September, MEET48 will host a series of activities to strengthen connections between fans and idols offline, vividly showcasing the new face of idols within the AI + Web3 framework. Could you share more details about these events so fans can better participate?
Kai:
MEET48 will invite seven members from SNH48 to attend our offline events in Singapore. We’ll also gradually roll out our MEET48 idol cultivation system across Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, leveraging AI to lower participation barriers and using token incentives to help more aspiring idols realize their dreams.
From TON to AI UGC: Deep Integration of GameFi and FansFi
TechFlow: According to social media announcements, MEET48 currently has multiple products and games—including AIShowBox, CoinFish, and CoinIdols—in testing phases, set to launch in Q3/Q4 2024. Could you introduce each product’s role within the MEET48 metaverse ecosystem and share their latest progress?
Kai:
AIShowBox is a suite of AI-powered SaaS tools enabling users to easily create their own virtual idol avatars and produce UGC virtual performances—even collaborative group shows with multiple users.
It’s well known that content creation barriers determine user engagement in UGC. TikTok succeeded because it lowered the threshold for creating short videos, allowing anyone to become a KOL. For virtual idols, however, technical requirements and costs—from modeling to music and choreography—are prohibitively high for individuals. Our AI SaaS tools will completely disrupt this status quo,enabling anyone to conveniently and affordably create their own virtual performer content via AIShowBox, publish it across social platforms, and participate in MEET48 voting events to earn rewards and higher returns.
This excites me greatly—the product is already in closed beta, and I believe it will be available to the public very soon. Stay tuned!
CoinIdols is an H5 game operating on the TON ecosystem, combining idol cheering culture with airdrop mechanics. We aim to use this product to expose more users to MEET48’s idol culture and convert them into ecosystem participants.
TechFlow: While eagerly awaiting product launches, we clearly see that games occupy a central place in the metaverse MEET48 is building for idols and fans. What strategic considerations drive this focus? How do games better bridge the gap between fans and idols, fostering friendlier interaction?
Kai:
Based on user profiles, we’ve introduced the AIGC concept—Animation, Idol, Game, Comic—highlighting thatanime, gaming enthusiasts, and idol fans belong to a common demographic, easily convertible between categories,especially in the context of virtual idols. Therefore, MEET48 won’t rely solely on games, but also on animation and comics to attract and convert this massive user base, sufficient to support our ambitious vision.
TechFlow: The upcoming CoinIdols is built on the TON ecosystem, sparking curiosity among community members. With so many blockchain ecosystems available, why did MEET48 choose TON? How will TON support the construction of MEET48’s metaverse?
Kai:
TON lowers the barrier for developers, enabling more visionary teams to join its ecosystem. MEET48 is inherently open—we hope idol entertainment becomes part of TON, and more developers join our product ecosystem. TON offers numerous functional possibilities worth exploring, and with its existing user base, it may well become a key driver for Web3’s breakout into the mainstream.
TechFlow: Over recent months, we’ve witnessed TON’s ecosystem gaining momentum, with hit mini-games like Hamster Kombat and Catizen emerging. In this competitive landscape, what unique appeal will MEET48’s upcoming game series offer?
Kai:
Current hits on TON primarily resonate through meme culture and airdrop incentives, with relatively simple participation—this aligns with my earlier point about lowering entry barriers to attract massive participation.
However, TON still lacks mechanisms to retain users and upgrade their experience afterward. MEET48’s upcoming game series not only deeply integrates with our continuously operated idol culture and fan economy, but also links gameplay and future experience upgrades directly to our metaverse ecosystem, offering users greater anticipation and long-term value assurance.
TechFlow: Economic model design is crucial for any ecosystem’s healthy operation. For the TON-based product series, MEET48 introduced MEME2.0—an innovative, ecosystem-integrated airdrop mechanism. Could you elaborate on where exactly the innovation of MEME2.0 lies? How does it effectively incentivize the ecosystem?
Kai:
Our thinking around Web3 always centers on breakout and user onboarding—applying this to both traditional entertainment culture and our approach to the TON ecosystem.
Given TON’s current characteristics, it cannot fully support our entire metaverse product. However, lightweight bots on TON can easily reach Telegram’s vast user base, spreading our cultural message and attracting attention via airdrops. But this alone isn’t enough. We’ve designed unified mechanics for items, assets, and incentive tokens, allowing users to bring assets and tokens earned on TON over to MEET48—a richer, broader platform—where they can further appreciate in value.
TechFlow: Additionally, we observe that another flagship product, AIShowBox, deeply integrates AI functionality, allowing users not only to experience the ecosystem but also immerse themselves in co-creating it—boosting ecological identity, engagement, and user stickiness. Many community members view this as a core differentiator for MEET48. What are your thoughts on this perspective?
Kai:
AIUGC is a major trend—empowering users to create content and incentivizing them to do so will yield excellent results.
We’ll initially use PARO LLM to create IP-linked virtual idols, but ultimately, we want users to create their own virtual idols and companions. Through campaigns and operations, we’ll make virtual idol creation and nurturing richer and more rewarding. This was once impossible, but in the coming years, with continuous improvements in large models and AI agents, we’ll deliver unexpected experiences.
TechFlow: Notably, high barriers and poor user experience have long hindered Web3’s development. Yet, in previous MEET48 events, we frequently saw participation exceeding hundreds of thousands and on-chain interactions surpassing millions. Based on these impressive figures, could you share from technical and product design perspectives how MEET48 drastically lowers user entry barriers, enhances participation experience, enables seamless Web3 engagement, and brings significant new user inflows to Web3?
Kai:
Fan communities are uniquely driven—they gather around shared beliefs and are willing to invest consistently. Idol cultivation and fandom are inherently high-barrier activities involving coordinated online-offline efforts, with fans investing far more time and money than average users.
For this group, Web3 isn’t a high barrier. Our job is to help them transition into Web3 more smoothly and seamlessly, while delivering better experiences and value feedback.
TechFlow: For ordinary users not yet part of MEET48, what draws them in? And how can they efficiently join the MEET48 ecosystem today?
Kai:
We’re rolling out major experience upgrades soon, introducing a new idol selection task system that allows more people to pursue their idol dreams within MEET48, while enabling fan users to grow alongside these idols and share in the value they generate.
Multiple Milestones Achieved: The MEET48 Metaverse Takes Shape
TechFlow: So far, our discussion has focused on specific components and implementation paths within the overarching vision of the MEET48 metaverse. Now, shifting from micro to macro, could you share your envisioned form of the future MEET48 metaverse?
Kai:
Idol and fan communities are merely MEET48’s vertical entry point and initial target. The metaverse is a vast concept and grand vision—a future community parallel to and integrated with the real world, much like the world depicted in *Ready Player One*. But such an ecosystem needs logic that attracts and retains native users; otherwise, it remains an empty utopia.
Our pathway is the strong bond between idols and fans—using idols to lead fans into the metaverse, where various interactions form a vibrant social ecosystem. Once this ecosystem stabilizes and grows,we can integrate additional metaverse content and formats—such as文旅, e-commerce—and bridge them with offline life and industries,attracting diverse new user groups and organically achieving, step by step, that ideal all-encompassing parallel universe.
TechFlow: In this cycle, the call to “embrace attention economy” is growing louder. How do you see the future of this “attention economy” trend? To many, the dynamic between idols and fans is a vivid embodiment of the attention economy. Riding this wave, what role will MEET48 play in advancing mass adoption of Web3?
Kai:
Web3 infrastructure now far exceeds current user demand. Widespread user adoption is essential for continued growth, requiring more high-quality consumer-facing applications that generate abundant content for dissemination. Currently, the most popular Web3 application is exchanges—but traders don’t produce content, hindering the content-driven user acquisition loop.
Entertainment is the most accessible domain for mass audiences and easiest for content creation and sharing. By capturing user attention through entertainment, enabling UGC and personal IP creation, using Web3 tech to establish ownership, and implementing smart redistribution of benefits during sharing and trading—that’s exactly what MEET48 is doing. We’re confident in becoming pioneers and leaders on the path to mass adoption.
TechFlow: Finally, welcome to share MEET48’s key focuses and milestones for the remainder of 2024.
Kai:
In 2024, MEET48 achieved significant breakthroughs in the Web3 space, building a revolutionary idol-fan interaction ecosystem through multidimensional innovation. We hosted four landmark Web3 voting events: the fashion-themed GIFR, summer-themed GISR, year-end flagship GIPR, and the 4YA x MEET48 Web3 Anniversary Festival in collaboration with Binance.These events engaged over 300 idols—including SNH48, virtual idol NFT Xiao Youling, amateur idol Su Da Li, and Hong Kong group RPG—with over 140 million votes cast, more than 33 million on-chain interactions, and over 300,000 global participants,solidifying MEET48’s influence in the Web3 ecosystem and reaching #1 in Social on DAPPBAY.
Beyond technological achievements, MEET48 enriched fan experiences through online-offline integration. Idols delivered stellar performances at international stages like Edge Summit and WebX, even sharing the stage with renowned DJ Steve Aoki in Japan. Additionally, MEET48 hosted “Back To The Streets” pop-up events in Hong Kong and Singapore, merging Web3 experiences with real-world engagement to create unique fan interactions.
In product innovation, MEET48 significantly enhanced platform capabilities and user experience.The OPBNB mainnet upgrade greatly improved platform security and scalability. MEET48 also launched video mining, allowing fans to earn rewards through content creation. Most notably, NFT empowerment grants holders exclusive online privileges and access to offline VIP handshake events, delivering immersive interactive experiences.
MEET48’s AIUGC product line AIShowBox, powered by MEET AI, empowers everyday users to create.Users can effortlessly generate music, dance videos, and even create virtual idols. This innovation transforms fans from passive consumers into active creators, unlocking infinite possibilities.
Regarding TON ecosystem product launches,MEET48 will debut its incubated projects CoinFish and CoinIdols on TON in September and October respectively.CoinFish is a “Fish to Airdrop” fishing simulation game where players earn airdrop rewards through fishing and nurturing. CoinIdols, deeply integrated with MEET48, adopts a “Cheer to Earn” model, allowing fans to earn by supporting their idols. These new products expand Web3 interaction methods and introduce novel incentive mechanisms for the idol economy.
MEET48 Becomes Platinum Sponsor of Singapore TOKEN2049, Hosting Major Web3 + AI Party on September 18 with GIPR2 Top 7 Idols for Roadshow and Fan Meetup
Previously, TOKEN2049 officially announced MEET48 as a platinum sponsor for Singapore TOKEN2049. Meanwhile, MEET48 will co-host a large-scale AI+Web3 Side Event titled “Back To The Streets” with Hape on the evening of September 18, strongly supported by partners ModelZoo, TraditioNow, OneKey, and BNB Chain.
MEET48 will also conduct a roadshow and fan meetup featuring the MEET GIPR2 Top 7 idol lineup.
Through deep integration of Web3 technology with the real world, MEET48 has pioneered a new model of online-offline interaction. Performances at Edge Summit and the “Back To The Streets” series not only brought fans closer to idols but also expanded Web3 applications in real-world scenarios. This large-scale innovation drives mass adoption of Web3 technology, making MEET48 not only successful in voting campaigns but also a global benchmark for integrating idol economy with Web3.
For MEET48, 2024 has been not only a year of innovation but also a pivotal moment in promoting Web3 technology普及 and achieving mass user adoption. Through AIUGC, NFT empowerment, and product innovation, MEET48 is leading the idol economy into a brand-new Web3 era.
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