The document discusses the future of virtual characters and their potential capabilities. It outlines 10 emerging technologies that could enable more advanced virtual characters, including facial expression tracking, speech recognition, natural language understanding, emotion sensing, and augmented reality. The author envisions that virtual companions of the future will have conversations with people, accompany them on adventures, be accessible everywhere through different platforms, have long-term relationships, adapt and change over time, provide teaching, and become an important part of people's social lives.