AI pop star pregnancy: Key takeaways
- BABYQUEEN sparked debate after using a fictional pregnancy to explain AI-generated member Mity’s departure
- Its creators said the storyline was intended to reduce their workload, while some social media users accused them of trivialising pregnancy and courting attention
- For brands using virtual personalities, the episode highlights the need for careful storytelling: fictional characters can provoke real audience reactions
Pop stars take career breaks for all sorts of reasons. Pregnancy is usually an explanation that requires little explanation. When Chinese virtual girl group BABYQUEEN announced that member Mity was expecting, the reason wasn’t so easy to swallow: she is AI-generated.
The fictional pregnancy, used to explain her temporary departure, prompted bewilderment and criticism on Chinese social media. Statements borrowed familiar celebrity language, asking for privacy and referring to discussions with bandmates about her health and recovery.
BABYQUEEN launched its Rednote account in September. They are present as characters in a K-pop-style act. Behind the polished personas, however, was a small group of creators struggling to keep the multiple virtual personalities active.
Behind the polished personas, however, was a small group of creators struggling to keep the multiple virtual personalities active
The creators later explained that they wanted to reduce their workload so chose to have Mity fall pregnant. They described the project as something made for their own enjoyment, said they had earned nothing from it, and reported receiving online abuse after the announcement spread.
Online reaction ranged from jokes about how an AI idol could become pregnant to criticism that the story turned women’s reproductive experiences into entertainment.
A teaser for new music appeared on the day of Mity’s personal announcement. That only fueled accusations that the controversy was designed to attract attention. AI is certainly making the world a more confusing place.
The Dao view: where do we even begin?
Usually we do our best to have an enlightening take for this section, but where do we begin when an AI pop star is announcing pregnancy? Who even expected they’d one day be reading that sentence? But why not, all these creators are doing after all, is selling a story.
Where do we begin when an AI pop star is announcing pregnancy?
The takeaway here really a caution for anyone else running AI-generated characters. A personality needs consistent stories. These stories require judgement. Be careful which human experiences you borrow.
BABYQUEEN’s creators described a hobby project, so its difficulties should not stand in for the whole virtual-idol business. But fictional characters do invite real audience responses. Your brand may control what its digital spokesperson says, but you don’t control how people will receive it.
