Xinjiang Digital Human Timeline

Notes:

Xinjiang has seen a surge in the development and deployment of digital humans across various sectors. The region’s first ultra-realistic virtual digital human, “Kunlun Xi”, was launched in Ürümqi in July 2023 by Tingguangtong Digital Technology Co., marking a milestone in hyper-realistic avatar creation. In the public security sector, “Xiao Ke” became Xinjiang’s first digital police officer, unveiled in January 2025 by the Karamay Public Security Bureau and designed to interact via voice for public service. Digital humans are also being used in cultural tourism, as seen in collaborations like the AI+MR digital tour project in Ili, and in education, where AI-driven digital humans assist with reading and science instruction. Moreover, Xinjiang is integrating digital humans into government services, such as a new digital social security platform enabling zero-contact public services. Events like the Digital Xinjiang Innovation Development Forum in Karamay further highlight the region’s transition from a resource-based to a digitally driven economy.

In the capital Ürümqi, digital humans (AI-generated virtual figures) are being widely integrated into public services, enterprise operations, and education. They assist in government service centers by answering questions and guiding procedures, and are also used for job training, e-commerce live-streaming, customer service, exhibition narration, legal tech, and even AI-enhanced museum experiences. Notable examples include “Kunlun Xi,” Xinjiang’s first ultra-realistic digital human, and various AI hosts used in digital governance platforms and enterprise promotion. The city is also developing its own local digital human models, integrating them with large language models to power services such as public libraries, employment platforms, and smart banking.

On July 3, 2023, Xinjiang Ting Guangtong Digital Technology Co., Ltd. unveiled “Kunlunxi,” promoted as China’s first ultra-realistic virtual digital human from Xinjiang, after nearly two years of development. Modeled on the goddess of Kunlun from Chinese mythology, she is presented as a time-traveling embodiment of Kunlun culture and serves as a cultural ambassador. Built using AI, computer graphics, and cloud computing, Kunlunxi features lifelike appearance, expressions, voice, and interactive abilities. The project aims to blend technology and tradition to engage younger audiences, promote Xinjiang culture, and support cultural tourism. Future plans include using Kunlunxi in virtual live streaming, exhibitions, and e-commerce to develop her into a nationally recognized virtual idol brand.

Xinjiang Tingguangtong Digital Technology Co., Ltd. was a technology company based in Ürümqi, Xinjiang, that specialized in AI-driven virtual beings and gained recognition in July 2023 for developing “Kunlun Xi,” promoted as the region’s and China’s first ultra-realistic virtual digital human, created as a cultural ambassador blending mythology and modern digital culture. The project positioned the company within China’s emerging digital human industry, emphasizing applications in cultural tourism, live streaming, exhibitions, and e-commerce. Despite this innovation, the company maintained no official website or online presence beyond registry entries, and business database records show that it was deregistered on April 24, 2025, marking an end to its formal operations even though its work remains a milestone in Xinjiang’s digital human development.

In March 2024, China Telecom partnered with the Shufu County government to conduct an AI digital human livestreaming training for e-commerce at Kashgar Jianguoguo Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd., drawing over 150 participants—including local businesses, vocational students, and entrepreneurs. The initiative was part of China Telecom’s “digital assistance to Xinjiang” efforts, supported by an 8 million yuan investment to establish the area’s first county-level AI livestream training base. The program combined lectures on streaming algorithms, platform rules, and traffic generation with hands-on practice and interactive Q&A, aiming to empower local stakeholders with advanced digital human–enabled livestreaming skills to enhance agricultural product marketing.

In October 2024, the Changji City Media Center launched its first AI Digital Human Training Program in partnership with Quanzhou Broadcasting and Television Station, debuting digital human anchors and establishing the “Quanchang-Qing AI Digital Human Studio” as part of the Cultural Enrichment of Xinjiang initiative; the event also featured lectures by Quanzhou Normal University’s Professor Wang Fenfei on AI’s human implications and Quanzhou TV deputy director Lai Lijian on media transformation in the smart era.

In January 2025, the Karamay Public Security Bureau, in collaboration with Beijing Shiyin Intelligence Technology Co., Ltd., introduced “Xiao Ke”, Xinjiang’s first AI-driven digital police officer, during the fifth Chinese People’s Police Day at the Victory Road Police Station. Designed as a lifelike virtual persona modeled on real officers, Xiao Ke integrates large language models, computer vision, speech recognition, and voice cloning to interact with citizens through 24/7 voice-based Q&A, providing policy information and guidance to improve public service efficiency and transparency. Equipped with continuous learning capabilities, it updates its knowledge base from real interactions to maintain accurate legal interpretation, while also assisting internal police operations with scenario-based training, case analysis, and procedural support.