Scrolling through Insta for that fire outfit inspo or the perfect gift for your bestie? And then, BAM! You spot that ultra-glowing girl or that super suave guy all hyped up about their latest beauty haul or must-have product. You’re like, “Yessss, I need that in my life!” So, you hit that follow button and become a loyal fan, right? But plot twist! What if I told you that some of your fav influencers might not be as real as they seem? Imagine finding out your ride-or-die influencer is actually a computer-generated persona programmed to chat you up and show off the latest trends. Wild, right?
Welcome to the era of AI influencers! Brands are ditching real-life peeps and creating virtual influencers that can be tweaked and tuned to match exactly what you wanna see. It’s like we’re living in a sci-fi movie, but this is our reality now. So, why should you care? Well, staying on top of these trends is important! Whether you’re a fashionista, a tech geek, or just love a good Insta scroll, knowing what’s real and what’s AI can help you make smarter choices and stay ahead of the game.
The Evolution of AI Influencers:
Let’s spill some tea on the evolution of influencers. We all know and love those OG influencers, right? Like the ones who show us killer rainbow makeup looks or help us pick out the sickest projector for our gaming setups. But hold up because AI influencers are stepping up the game! Yeah, you heard that right! These digital divas are made of pure code but look and act like they’re straight out of a sci-fi movie. They’ve got the looks and the style, and they’re always online, ready to chat about the latest trends or help you with anything, anytime, anywhere. And guess what? Half the peeps who’ve vibed with these AI influencers say they’ve had a “super positive” experience. It’s like having a bestie who’s always there to hype you up and share the latest details. So yeah, the future of influencing is here, and it’s all about those virtual avatars bringing the heat to your feed.
Benefits of AI influencers:
AI influencers are revolutionizing influencer marketing by fusing novel technology with fresh, fascinating storytelling techniques. Among the key benefits for brands are:
- The cost: By their very nature, virtual influencers are less costly than conventional celebrity endorsements. They are also extremely profitable, bringing in thousands of monthly dollars for their creators. Thanks to significant brand partnerships, Lu Do Magalu is believed to earn around $16.2 million annually at its highest end.
- Consistency of brand: Regardless of the content provider, virtual models are excellent at establishing a consistent brand persona across several social media channels.
- Endless options: Due to cost or location, human influencers might not be able to create as engaging and innovative content as digital influencers can.
- Influencers beyond limits: AI influencers are available to people anywhere in the world, regardless of where the content creator is located. Due to this, their speech and message are also easier to localize than those of human influencers in certain regions.
- Availability around the clock: Following training, virtual influencers may interact with followers and post content anytime beyond their usual work hours.
Issues with AI influencers:
Even though many businesses will undoubtedly find the benefits fascinating, it’s important to understand their drawbacks and obligations to customers.
- Ethical considerations: Businesses are worried that fake influencers may dupe and mislead customers.
- Transparency: Brands must inform consumers that their AI influencers are not human.
- Acceptance by the audience: Since not everyone agrees with the idea of the virtual persona, businesses should expect criticism from buyers. Many see them as a threat to human originality and authenticity.
- Unusual: The uncanny valley is one problem. Digital influencers don’t age or don’t experience the same daily struggles as their fans or audience. With time, users might turn away from the fake and head toward what is more authentic.
- Deviating from the norm: Some people have a history of acting aggressively and embarrassingly out of character. Microsoft’s AI chatbot Tay started sending abusive and aggressive comments via its Twitter account in 2016. Brands beware—this technology isn’t flawless!
- Sexism: A lot of famous AI figures are portrayed as female characters. Sadly, not all of this portrayal is beneficial; at worst, some of it objectifies women as sexual objects and promotes negative or false perceptions of beauty. Businesses that use virtual models to portray women must do so fairly and without turning to demeaning clichés.
Influencers in AI in the future:
Alright, let’s dive into the future of influencing! Love them or hate them, AI influencers are here to stay. As tech like machine learning and natural language processing gets crazier advanced, these digital peeps are gonna get even more real. Imagine AI influencers blending seamlessly into our digital lives, giving us personalized shopping recs and lifestyle tips. It’s like the line between the real and virtual world is getting blurrier by the day! But hold up! That doesn’t mean our fav human influencers are going anywhere. Authenticity, emotional vibes, and that special human touch? That’s irreplaceable.
We still gotta figure out the ethics and societal impact of AI influencers, but major brands are already hopping on the bandwagon. Ogilvy says 63% of marketers plan to use AI in their influencer campaigns by 2024! So, whether you’re Team Human or Team AI, one thing’s for sure – the influencer game is levelling up, and it’s gonna be lit!
The rise of AI influencers is changing the game, blending tech and storytelling to give us a whole new influencer experience. But it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. From ethical concerns to the need for transparency, there’s a lot we need to figure out. While AI influencers bring some benefits like cost-effectiveness and round-the-clock availability, we can’t forget the power of human connection and authenticity. So, whether you’re all in for the digital divas or sticking with your fav human influencers, the future is gonna be wild! As we navigate this brave new world of influencing, let’s keep it real, stay informed, and remember always to question what we see online.
