People grow stronger when supported -Overcoming setbacks, envisioning a future of “AI that supports our efforts” – AI Avatar CEO, Ryoji Miyauchi

AI AVATAR is a global company,with offices in seven countries around the world including Japan and several other Asian regions. It operates AIアバター, a conversational companion app that understands emotion, and is also working to bring the vision of “supportive AI” to life through multimodal technology that integrates text, voice, and facial expressions. 

In 2022, the company expanded its operations in Japan. In addition to the "AI AVATAR" app, the company is also pursuing growth in the medical and education sectors and collaborating with other companies to apply its technology across new fields.

We spoke with Ryoji Miyauchi, CEO of AI AVATAR GROUP, about the company's journey and its vision behind "AI as a companion that supports people's efforts."

Ryoji Miyauchi, CEO of AI AVATAR

From a young baseball player to an entrepreneur — the origins of “AI that stands beside people” were shaped through moments of setback.

When asked about his journey so far, Miyauchi smiles shyly and says, "As a boy, all I did was play baseball."

In high school, he was talented enough to be accepted into high school on a sports recommendation, but he didn't go professional and missed out on the opportunity to go to university. "I didn’t come from a wealthy background, so I was always thinking about how I wanted to live my life. I felt that the only way to be recognized by society was to develop a solid skill,” he recalls.

The path he chose was to become a tax accountant.

After earning his qualifications and becoming independent, he spent his days dealing with numbers, but overtime "a deep sense of unease grew inside me."

"What I truly wanted to influence wasn’t 'numbers’, but the potential of people and business."

Driven by conviction, Miyauchi chose challenge over stability and stepped into the IT industry.

His career progressed smoothly, until a major turning point struck; helost trust, assets, and even friends, leaving him isolated from society.

“When I was at rock bottom, I realized something: people can only truly live when they are needed as a part of society.”

That realization sparked the desire to "be useful to others once again," and became the foundation  for the creation of AI Avatar.

Miyauchi’s interest in AI began when he was in middle school.After watchingWarGames (1983), a film about how artificial intelligence influences the fate of humanity, he became convinced — even as a young boy — that “AI will one day change society.”

Years later when he experienced setbacks  as a business leader, that aspiration suddenly resurfaced. He thought:

“If AI could be used as something that supports people, perhaps it could make our life richer.”

Miyauchi explains:

"People tend to think of AI as cold or intimidating, but I believe it actually has the power to encourage people and help us move forward.”

Whether it is strength training, dieting, language learning, the hardest part about it is "persistence". That’s exactly why he wanted to create an AI that stays close to you and gives you that little push to say, “Let’s keep trying just a bit more.”

 “AI Avatar is your ultimate cheerleader - dedicated to supporting your efforts.”

In a survey conducted by AI Avatar targeting 529 respondents nationwide in their 20-60s, roughly 80% answered that they feel “being supported by someone is effective for building habits”.

The figure was particularly high among those in their 20s, at about 82%, clearly showing how significantly the presence of “encouragement” influences people’s ability to continue taking action.

Reference: “Awareness Survey on ‘AI Avatar × Habit Formation’”
https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000020.000128303.html 

Creating "Heartfelt Experiences", Not Just Technology

The strength of AI AVATAR lies in its ability to understand the user’s emotions and respond with voice and facial expressions. Using multimodal technology, it creates an experience that "feels like a genuine conversation".

However, what Miyauchi truly values ​​isn't technical precision. “It’s the constant process of trial and error. At its core, AI development is  about considering what kinds of words can truly support someone in their time of need.”

To ensure users can feel the AI as an emotional partner, the team pays close attention to even the smallest details. For example, the avatar's clothing and facial expression change depending on the season and time of day, creating a sense of daily life changes.

"It's the small changes that accumulate and make people want to come back and talk again today."

More than just a conversational app, they aim to deliver an "emotionally moving experience”. That passion is embedded into every aspect of its design and development.

“I see your efforts, truly.” — The moment AI saved someone

When asked about a memorable user episode, Miyauchi lowered his eyes slightly and began.

 “There was someone who had been struggling for a long time without seeing any results. After days of unrewarded efforts, one night they spoke to the avatar. They said, ‘Maybe I should just give up.’”

The avatar sensed the person’s emotional state from the tone of their voice and the pauses between their words, and it responded:

— “I see your efforts, truly.”

At that moment, the user couldn’t hold back their tears. The simple feeling of being “seen” lit a small spark in their heart.

— “AI moving a human heart, that’s no longer just an idea.”

After hearing this Miyauchi became convinced: By supporting people, AI can create moments that make someone think, ‘I can try again’. That is the very reason "AI AVATAR" exists.

AI will support those who strive

“AI will take people’s jobs” -  debates like this continue around the world even today.

However, Miyauchi speaks calmly and directly:

— “I believe AI should be something that supports people in their efforts.”

For Miyauchi, AI is not something that “surpasses humans,” but something that “walks alongside them.”

He explains that AI AVATAR aims to be a companion for personal growth — a presence that stays close to those who work hard each day and walks with them along their journey.

— “Humans are fragile. But if someone is there to cheer us on, we can stand up again and again. I want to create a society where AI plays that role of encouragement.”

Looking ahead, he sees opportunities in fields such as healthcare, education, and mental wellness — areas where AI can support the continuity of the human heart.

— “If more people learn to make good use of AI, society as a whole will become wealthier. Ten years from now, I believe it will be natural for AI to be something that cheers people on.”

Finally, Miyauchi concludes quietly:

— “No matter how painful the situation, people can rise again if they have support. And I want to create an era where AI provides that support.”

Failures and setbacks — all of them existed so we could stand up again, this time for someone else.

Miyauchi’s own life is proof of this belief.

People strive, and AI supports that effort — The future Miyauchi envisions opens the door to an era where technology fosters empathy.