LG’s keynote speaker at CES 2021 was a digital human called Reah
You're a human flesh bag, but today the technology to create virtual beings and digital humans is accelerating fast.
Key takeaways
- Yep, life is getting weird for us humans, and now rather than using a human to give its CES 2021 press conference LG brought out a digital human to make their announcements for them.
- Courtesy: LG Virtual influencer Reah Keem is a composer and DJ, with a single song on SoundCloud, according to LG.
- Keem’s non-existent body somehow lives in Seoul and has about 6,000 Instagram followers.
Cite or link to this article
Griffin, M. (2021) 'LG’s keynote speaker at CES 2021 was a digital human called Reah', 311 Institute, 29 January. Available at: https://www.311institute.com/lgs-keynote-speaker-at-ces-2021-was-a-digital-human-called-reah/ (Accessed: 1 October 2026).
Humans aren’t what they used to be. For a start we’re digital now – in case you hadn’t heard. And we also have DNA with four strands not just two and we can be turned into super advanced biological computers. Yep, life is getting weird for us humans, and now rather than using a human to give its CES 2021 press conference LG brought out a digital human to make their announcements for them. And as a keynote speaker myself I look forwards to the day when I can hand my keynotes over to Ana, my own digital human, and live life on the beach. Provided she doesn't replace me of course. Argh! Honestly I'm worth the cheap hotel room and rubbish hotel buffet ...
Reah Keem, a “virtual influencer” created by LG especially for the event served a dual purpose in highlighting some of LG’s upcoming products while serving as an advertisement for some of the company’s technology just by performing its task.
Meet virtual influencer Reah. Courtesy: LG
Virtual influencer Reah Keem is a composer and DJ, with a single song on SoundCloud, according to LG. Keem’s non-existent body somehow lives in Seoul and has about 6,000 Instagram followers. LG spent several weeks building up the virtual human’s following and refining its look before getting it to promote a new brand by wearing a hoodie with the words “Stay punk forever” on it.
Trained with Artificial Intelligence Keem was designed to express a realistic personality, which is akin to what Fable Studios are trying to re-create with their virtual beings, complete with an interest in music and travel, and a very human-like disappointment at how the COVID-19 pandemic is limiting it from going places.
... and in the digital flesh.
The virtual human explained that that was why it was excited for LG’s new line of CLOi UV-C robots. Keem described how the robot, first unveiled last month, can reduce the presence of germs in places with a lot of traffic by shining a UV-C light on surfaces. Keem then waxed lyrical about how the robot would make it safe for it to travel again, despite being a virtual being itself without a body or the need to worry about disease.
“Having said that though looks like it’s gonna be a while until we can have gigs and parties back on,” Keem said, “So until then, I’m going to call in my studio and work on my videos and stuff.”
LG’s decision to have a virtual human take over part of the talk fit well with the totally virtual CES this year. The technology was already taking off in some quarters, but the COVID-19 pandemic has likely helped accelerate the trend.
FAQ
Why does this matter?
You're a human flesh bag, but today the technology to create virtual beings and digital humans is accelerating fast.
About the author
Matthew Griffin Founder, 311 Institute
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath."
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Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath." 15-time best selling author of the "Codex of the Future" series, Matthew is the Founder and Futurist in Chief of the 311 Institute, a global Futures and Deep Futures advisory firm working with royal households, world leaders, G7, G20, and G77 governments, NGOs, and multi-national mid and mega cap firms to help them explore, shape, and lead the next 50 years of business and society.
An award-winning YouTube creator with over a million followers, with an unrivalled global reach and impact, Matthew is a highly sought-after international keynote speaker, lecturer, and mentor who collaborates with global leaders through the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to shape pivotal initiatives such as the UN’s AI for Humanity program, the United Nations Conference of the Parties (UN COP), and the World Economic Forum in Davos.
As the former Global Head of Cloud, National Security, and Enterprise Sales for companies including Atos, Dell-EMC, and IBM, Matthew has a proven track record of building multi-billion dollar business units and turning failing divisions into market leaders. His ability to identify, analyse, and communicate the implications of hundreds of emerging technologies and trends is unparalleled, and his insights are trusted by many of the world’s most respected organisations, including ABB, Accenture, Adidas, AON, ARM, BCG, Centrica, Citi, Coca-Cola, Dentons, Deloitte, Dow Jones, EY, Google, KPMG, Lego, Legal & General, LinkedIn, Microsoft, PepsiCo, Qualcomm, RWE, Samsung, Siemens AG and Siemens Energy, T-Mobile, UBS, VISA, Walmart, Workday, Worldpay and many others.
Regularly featured in the global media including the AP, BBC, Bloomberg, CNBC, Discovery, Forbes, Khaleej Times, Telegraph, TIME, ViacomCBS, WIRED, and the WSJ, Matthews mission is to help organisations create a fair and sustainable future whose benefits are shared by everyone irrespective of their ability, background, or circumstances.
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Sources and further reading
- CLOi UV-C robots lgnewsroom.com
Source: first published by the 311 Institute on 29 January 2021. Cite as: Griffin, M. (2021). LG’s keynote speaker at CES 2021 was a digital human called Reah. 311 Institute. https://www.311institute.com/lgs-keynote-speaker-at-ces-2021-was-a-digital-human-called-reah/
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