Coca-Cola's World Cup AI Avatar Showcases Brand's Cutting-edge AI Innovation

BEIJING, June 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- During the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Coca-Cola China launched a new sports marketing campaign featuring a real-time interactive AI avatar of Chinese football icon Fan Zhiyi alongside a World Cup-themed AIGC creative film. Developed in collaboration with Baidu Yijing, Baidu's multi-agent AI avatar platform, the campaign delivers immersive, AI-powered fan engagement experiences.

The Fan Zhiyi AI avatar represents a new generation of interactive AI companions designed for live sports viewing. Powered by Baidu Yijing's advanced AI technologies, the avatar is available 24/7 and supports low-latency, real-time conversations with fans. Recreating Fan's likeness, expressions and voice with remarkable fidelity, it allows users to discuss match action, exchange football insights and engage in authentic conversations throughout the tournament. Unlike traditional virtual characters that rely on pre-programmed content, the avatar offers a dynamic and continuously available experience, bringing fans closer to the game in a new way.

While many World Cup-themed AI marketing activations have focused primarily on AI-generated content, Coca-Cola China's campaign brings together both an AIGC-powered creative film and a virtual football ambassador. The initiative demonstrates how AI can support not only content creation but also consumer engagement at scale. By enabling around-the-clock interactions, the technology helps overcome the scheduling, location and availability constraints traditionally associated with celebrity-led campaigns. Without requiring a spokesperson's ongoing live participation, the avatar can engage with fans at any time, creating an always-on engagement model that extends the reach of celebrity-led campaigns while enabling deeper consumer engagement and lasting audience relationships.

By moving beyond conventional endorsement models, the campaign redefines how celebrity ambassadors can engage with audiences in digital environments, offering a new model for AI-powered marketing in the FMCG sector.

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Coca-Cola's World Cup AI Avatar Showcases Brand's Cutting-edge AI Innovation

BANGKOK, Nov. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Chulalongkorn University researchers rank among the World's Top 2% Scientists for 2026, a 150% increase over the previous year. They represent 25 faculties, institutes and schools, with expertise ranging from medicine and engineering to business and environmental research.

Those recognized include Professor Dr. Wilert Puriwat, President of Chulalongkorn University, alongside faculty members, honorary and adjunct professors, and affiliated researchers. Their inclusion reflects the breadth of Chula's research expertise and its international academic connections.

Published in the Elsevier Data Repository, the database assesses scientific impact using standardized citation indicators in two categories: career-long citation impact and single-year citation impact.

The latest edition draws on an August 2026 snapshot of Scopus author profiles. Career-long data cover the period through the end of 2025, while single-year data capture citations received during 2025. The assessment considers citations counts, co-authorship, and authorship positions to assess researchers' influence on subsequent scholarship.

Chulalongkorn University congratulates all those recognized for their contributions to advancing knowledge and strengthening Thailand's presence in the global research community.

The full list of recognized researchers is available at https://www.chula.ac.th/en/news/429212/

Media Contact:
Chula Communication Center
Email: Pataraporn.r@chula.ac.th

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Chula Sees 150% Rise in Researchers Named Among World's Top 2% Scientists