A stage shared by professional Go player Lee Sedol, 9-dan, and AI Lee Sedol

About

At large events, the presence of a well-known figure leaves a strong impression on attendees, but there has always been ongoing interest in how to expand that experience in an even more memorable way. In September 2025, Perso Interactive introduced an AI Avatar of Lee Sedol 9-dan on stage at the 60th Certified Public Accountant Exam Passers' Welcome and Networking Event, creating a new kind of event experience.

Participants experienced the special feeling twice over, both through the presence of the real Lee Sedol 9-dan and through real-time voice conversations with AI Lee Sedol about Go-related topics. As a result, we successfully created a new type of event experience in which a real person and AI technology blended naturally, leaving attendees with a lasting impression.

Background

The passers' welcome ceremony was meant to offer a special, memorable experience to those embarking on a new beginning. Having Lee Sedol 9-dan attend the event in person was meaningful in itself, but rather than stopping at a simple congratulatory speech or networking, a new type of experience was needed—one that would allow attendees to participate more actively and become more immersed.

Accordingly, to extend the presence of a real person through AI technology and create an unprecedented special moment for attendees, Perso Interactive's solution was adopted.

Solution

Using Perso Interactive technology, we produced an AI Avatar trained on Lee Sedol 9-dan's voice and facial expression data. With Lee Sedol 9-dan actually attending the event, an AI Avatar that precisely replicated his appearance and speech style appeared alongside him on the large stage screen and held real-time voice conversations with attendees. Participants could ask AI Lee Sedol questions about Go and receive answers directly, experiencing a unique and immersive encounter in which the real person and AI coexisted.

The AI Avatar, staged to match the scale of the large event venue, and the real-time conversations with it served as key elements that made the atmosphere of the entire event even more special.

Results

The stage featuring both Lee Sedol 9-dan in person and the AI Avatar left a powerful and distinctive impression on attendees. Rather than simply delivering a one-way congratulatory message, it created a structure in which attendees could directly converse with AI and actively participate in the event, energizing the atmosphere even further.

A new event format in which a real person and AI technology blend naturally was successfully implemented, and as an event use case combining a celebrity IP with AI technology, it became a meaningful reference that demonstrates potential for expansion into a wide range of future events.

Recommended for

If you are an organizer of large-scale events such as corporate events, awards ceremonies, or welcome receptions; a content planner using celebrity IP; or an event manager looking to differentiate the attendee experience, this case will be a useful reference. It can also be considered effectively when you want to enhance the overall quality of an event by extending the presence of a real person through AI technology.

Things you'd like to know

Q. Can it be deployed onsite immediately without installation or separate development?

A. Yes. Perso Interactive AI can be deployed on-site immediately without separate development or infrastructure setup. However, if additional information or customization is needed, we proceed with the desired development after prior consultation. After development, the station (kiosk) device can be installed and operated immediately on site.

Q. Is participation by the real person necessary to produce the AI Avatar?

A. Yes. For AI Avatar production, collection of the person's voice and facial expression data, as well as consent to use the IP, are required. The process includes prior consultation with the real person and data collection, and the specific production steps will be discussed with a Perso Interactive representative.

Q. Does real-time voice conversation happen naturally without interruption?

A. Yes. Through Perso Interactive's real-time interaction technology, we create a conversational experience in which the AI Avatar responds naturally to attendees' questions. Sufficient testing and scenario review before the event ensure stable operation.