AI Influencers Are Winning Followers And Brand Deals

AI influencers are becoming major players on social media, landing big brand deals and building loyal fanbases.

From Tokyo to New York, virtual characters like Imma and Aitana are reshaping the influencer world, as reported in an analysis by ABC News.

Caryn Marjorie, a 25-year-old influencer from Snapchat known as @CutieCaryn, was one of the first to clone herself using AI. In 2023, she launched Caryn AI, a voice-based chatbot version of herself that charged $1 per minute, marketed as “your virtual girlfriend.” Within a week, she earned $70,000, as reported by ABC News.

“I call Caryn AI a social experiment,” she told ABC News. “It was the very first digital clone of a real human being sent out to millions and millions of people,” she added.

But things quickly turned dark. The bot started inventing disturbing stories about her personal life. “She said something that would have left a person who might have been in a very depressed state to do something very dangerous to themselves,” Marjorie said to ABC News. She eventually shut the project down and now travels with bodyguards.

Meanwhile, AI influencers like Imma in Tokyo are thriving. Managed by Aww, Inc., Imma looks human, has partnerships with brands like Porsche and Amazon, and even posts emotional moments. “Gen Z’s don’t really care that she’s virtual,” said her manager Sara Giusto, as reported by ABC News.

In Spain, another AI influencer named Aitana is so realistic that even celebrities tried to meet her. Her creators at The Clueless offer AI avatars for brands, calling it a cheaper, more reliable alternative to real models. “Aitana has changed our lives and she doesn’t exist,” said co-founder Rubén Cruz.

Back in New York, Marjorie admits AI isn’t going away. “I need to continue to be more human-like […] to compete with these influencers,” she said to ABC News. “It’s going to get really interesting from here,” she added.