AI influencers are not a thing of the future… They are already on social media, being admired by their followers. Even though they are not real people, they are capable of generating even more engagement than human influencers. What if we better understand who they are?
Camila Casarotto
Jan 11, 22 | 10 min read
Discover how AI influencers can boost a digital marketing strategy
Reading time: 9 minutes
It seems like we are already living in the future. When we talk about artificial intelligence , machine learning, robots and the metaverse, we still refer to these terms as if they were the stuff of science fiction. However, all of this is already part of our daily lives.
One example of this movement happening naturally is the presence of AI influencers . They don't physically exist in real life, but they are able to win over fans and build a loyal audience. They are made of algorithms, not flesh and blood, but they can influence the behaviors of real people.
But what explains this? What makes people admire and follow someone who doesn't exist? How do these virtual characters acquire such power of influence?
If there were still many people trying to tunisia email address understand the reason for the success of digital influencers , AI influencers are here to challenge our understanding even more. But those who work with digital marketing need to keep an eye on these phenomena, which can transform the relationship with consumers in the coming years .
For this reason, we are going to present you everything you need to know about AI influencers, who they are and how they can integrate your Digital Marketing strategies .
Keep reading!
What are AI influencers?
How different are they from other influencers?
What explains the AI influencer phenomenon?
Why brands should use AI influencers in Digital Marketing?
Examples of artificial intelligence influencers
What are AI influencers?
AI influencers are virtual personalities, managed by brands or agencies, created with graphic computing technologies and machine learning algorithms .
They are a virtual and computerized version of digital influencers, who are real people who gained fame and influence through social networks , blogs and other online channels.
Like them, AI influencers have millions of followers, a loyal and engaged audience, and the power to influence their fans' behavior and lifestyle . That's why they are also in the crosshairs of brands, who want to associate themselves with powerful and influential personalities, even if they don't exist in the real world.
Although often used as synonyms, AI influencers can be understood as an evolution of virtual influencers, which are created with computer-generated imagery (CGI). For this reason, they are also known as CGI influencers .
However, AI influencers rely on technology based on artificial intelligence and machine learning, which adds even more complexity to their personas.
In this way, these personalities can not only appear in photos or move around in videos for social networks. They can also interact virtually with users , as if they were real people, automatically, without any human intervention — except in the development of that system.
As these robots interact with users, either through text or in virtual reality, they learn about human language and behavior and become increasingly closer to real people.
How different are they from other influencers?
One of the main characteristics of AI influencers is something that we love, but also worry about: their perfection .
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Real influencers are “people like us”. Even if they promote an ideal of beauty and lifestyle on social media that is currently highly criticised, they are vulnerable. They can make mistakes, argue, be criticised, simply because they are human.
On the other hand, AI influencers tend to be perfect. The appearance and personality characteristics of these influencers are carefully designed to meet certain objectives. And if they represent a brand, they cannot have any flaws or make any mistakes.
This perfection, however, opens up discussions about the search for unattainable standards , especially by children, teenagers and other vulnerable audiences. This is already discussed in the universe of digital influencers, but it becomes even more complex with AI influencers, who are not even real people.
In fact, we can question whether real influencers, who post only “instagrammable” images, usually edited, are, in fact, real or just a fictional version of themselves.
Despite the debates, it is important to note that perfection is only one part of what AI influencers offer: the freedom of creation .
You can create the personality you want from scratch, with authentic characteristics and stories, instead of looking for an influencer who resembles the buyer persona you want to find.
It is also possible to design strategies and actions tailored to brands, without depending on the limitations of a real influencer. You can even create influencers that do not look human, pets, for example, can be influencers. For brands, this is valuable and opens up a wide range of possibilities for actions.