In a stunning twist, Chinese entrepreneur Luo Yonghao’s AI digital twin just beat him at his own game—live selling. During a six-hour stream on Baidu’s e-commerce platform, his digital avatar brought in over $7 million in sales, outperforming Luo’s actual livestream from May in just 26 minutes.
Yes, you read that right.
The stream featured two AI-generated hosts who promoted 133 products. These digital avatars weren’t just reading scripts. They used realistic gestures, answered live questions, and interacted with viewers as naturally as any human host could.
It didn’t just look real—it felt real. And that’s where it gets wild.
Powered by Baidu’s ERNIE AI, the stream produced 97,000+ characters of product descriptions on the fly. The session pulled in a jaw-dropping 13 million viewers, becoming the first-ever livestream to use “dual digital avatars” where Luo and his AI twin appeared side-by-side, chatting like old friends.
Behind the scenes, this isn’t just about one event—it’s a big signal. China’s $946 billion live commerce industry now employs over 100,000 digital humans. According to Baidu, these AI workers can cut costs by up to 80% and boost transactions by 62%. That’s not a trend—that’s a revolution.
What if a livestream had two digital avatars—talking, reacting, and engaging in real time?
Luo Yonghao, one of China’s top livestreamers, made his digital avatar debut on Baidu’s e-commerce platform. Powered by the ERNIE foundation model, the livestream was the first to feature… pic.twitter.com/ZdzNieEDOi
— Baidu Inc. (@Baidu_Inc) June 17, 2025
Why This Matters
The AI digital twin doesn’t need breaks. It doesn’t forget product specs. It doesn’t have off days. And for the average viewer? The difference is almost impossible to spot.
So what happens when AI is better than the real thing?
For now, humans still bring trust, emotion, and spontaneity. But when efficiency and scale become the priority, digital twins might take over the front lines of online commerce.
The Future Is Here (and It Looks Like You)
This event isn’t just a cool experiment—it’s a wake-up call for every brand, creator, and seller. Whether you love it or hate it, the AI digital twin is now part of the game.
Will customers miss the human touch? Maybe.
Will businesses care if AI makes more money? Probably not.
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