Baidu has officially introduced its next-generation digital human technology, NOVA, at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) 2025. Developed by Huiboxing, Baidu’s AI digital human livestreaming platform, NOVA is designed to bring professional-level virtual presenters to mainstream industries. With an industry-wide rollout planned for October 2025, the technology is currently undergoing invite-only testing.

Built on Baidu’s ERNIE 4.5 Turbo model, NOVA introduces three key innovations. The first is master-level script generation, enabling digital humans to deliver fluent, natural livestream presentations. This system synchronizes speech with facial expressions and gestures, creating a more human-like experience for viewers. It eliminates the need for manual scripting and post-editing, making it efficient for businesses and content creators.

The second major advancement is the real-time AI brain. This component allows NOVA to process livestream data instantly, enabling features like intelligent Q&A handling, audience interaction management, and the automatic generation of trending content. With this, virtual hosts can react and respond like real presenters, enhancing engagement and viewer retention.

Perhaps the most revolutionary feature is NOVA’s rapid cloning technology. In just 10 minutes of sample footage, it can replicate a person’s voice, tone, and body language with high accuracy. This makes it possible to create emotionally expressive and personalized digital avatars that mirror real individuals. The potential for use in brand representation, education, and customer service is significant.

Early results from the testing phase already demonstrate strong performance. In education, a digital human created for a Chinese knowledge influencer increased viewer watch time by 101%. In healthcare, NOVA supported a virtual spokesperson for Mengniu’s senior-care brand, Yourui, resulting in a 33% rise in conversion rates. These figures point to the real-world impact of hyper-realistic virtual presenters.

A standout showcase came in June 2025, when a digital version of Chinese entrepreneur Yonghao Luo made its virtual debut during a livestream on Baidu’s AI e-commerce platform. The stream garnered over 13 million views and drove more than 55 million RMB in gross merchandise volume, highlighting the commercial potential of NOVA-powered presentations.

With more than 100,000 businesses already using Baidu’s digital human technologies across sectors like e-commerce, education, healthcare, and law, NOVA’s upcoming rollout marks a critical moment. 

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