Yang Mei yangmei_szdaily@163.com METAVERSE has become a buzzword in technology and business, and now local geeks and visitors can get themselves immersed in its magic world with an iOS app “比鄰星球,” developed and debuted by Proximai Technology (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd. yesterday, the first day of the 24th China Hi-Tech Fair (CHTF), China’s largest and most influential tech event. Proximai, founded in Qianhai this March, is a virtual social platform targeting young generations, particularly Gen Z. Users can download the free app in the iOS App Store to enter the metaverse, where they could create their own virtual avatars and roam around nine themed virtual scenes, including Shenzhen’s landmark buildings and scenic spots, attend beach concerts, go camping under the stars and see fashion shows. Users can also persoanlize their skin color, hair color and costumes to show their unique virtual identities and personalities. “We feel very thrilled to launch our iOS app on the first day of the CHTF, which for us symbolizes double happiness. As a newly founded startup, we are grateful for the attention and support we’ve received along the way,” said Li Lin, a staffer from the company’s PR department in an interview with Shenzhen Daily yesterday. Aside from virtual scenes and avatars, one of the company’s other major concepts — Proximai Aurora — was also presented at the fair. According to Li, Proximai Aurora is an AI-powered virtual human machine that provides users 24/7 online companionship. “Proximai Aurora is like your virtual friend who interacts with you more personally and emotionally. Users can open the app to interact with their virtual friend,” she explained. As a Shenzhen-based company, Proximai has used its expertise to help boost the development of the city’s tourism and fashion industries. Li mentioned that during the S/S 2023 Shenzhen Fashion Week that concluded earlier this month, Proximai collaborated with fashion brands and created virtual fashion shows for users to “walk” the runways. The company also joined hands with Splendid China, the country’s first theme park, to build a virtual theme park to allow online tourists to explore from the comfort of their homes. The company, although a newcomer to the high-tech fair, has two booths showcasing their latest technologies — one in Hall 1 and the other at the booth of the Science and Technology and Innovation Bureau of Nanshan District — at the Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center in Futian District. “We’re extremely honored to have two booths at China’s No. 1 tech fair. We hope to take this opportunity to promote our products,” Li said. | 