In the MEANtime
In the MEANtime
Podcast Description
Welcome to In the MEANtime, a podcast where academic research becomes accessible, engaging, and relevant. Based in Greenwich, home of Greenwich Mean Time, we dive into the exciting projects shaping our world, offering a glimpse into the "meantime" of academic exploration. Each episode brings complex ideas down to earth, spotlighting real-world impacts and insights from leading researchers. Whether you're a researcher, student, professional, or just curious, In the MEANtime delivers meaningful conversations that bridge academia and everyday understanding.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast covers themes such as consumer behavior trends, gender inequality, digital detox, literary tourism, social media's influence on travel, and passport power. Episodes feature discussions like inconspicuous consumption in Buenos Aires, women's workplace rights in India's tech sector, and the impact of social media on travel habits, providing insights into how these issues affect everyday life.
Welcome to In the MEANtime, a podcast where academic research becomes accessible, engaging, and relevant. Based in Greenwich, home of Greenwich Mean Time, we dive into the exciting projects shaping our world, offering a glimpse into the “meantime” of academic exploration. Each episode brings complex ideas down to earth, spotlighting real-world impacts and insights from leading researchers. Whether you’re a researcher, student, professional, or just curious, In the MEANtime delivers meaningful conversations that bridge academia and everyday understanding.
In this episode, Dr. Lauren Siegel and Dr. Ryan Young interview Dr Tippayanet Sorosrungruang about virtual influencers and her research on human–AI interaction, AI-enabled persuasion, and ethics. She distinguishes avatars (representations of real people) from virtual influencers (fictional characters built with CGI, generative AI, and deepfakes by human teams) and outlines types including human-like and non-human forms, plus brand-owned versus free-agent characters. Examples include Lil Miquela’s fashion/activism persona and “Nobody Sausage,” which has high engagement despite being non-human. The discussion covers why people relate to virtual influencers (computer-as-social-actor theory, social cues, reduced uncanny valley), who is receptive (younger consumers and those with high cognitive empathy but emotional overwhelm), and risks as tools democratise, including manipulation, sensitive endorsements, and hyperrealistic deception, alongside potential inclusivity representations and emerging companion/therapy-style AI avatars.
01:10 What Are Virtual Influencers
02:25 Avatars vs Fictional Characters
03:53 Lil Miquela And Branding
06:27 Why We Connect With AI
08:47 Nobody Sausage Success
12:05 Who Responds Most
16:14 Ethics And Regulation
18:57 Diversity And Virtual Death
20:05 Representation Versus Jobs
23:51 Future AI Companions
24:52 Publications And Wrap Up
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