Since influencer marketing has become a highly demanded strategy, we’ve seen unique variants of influencers, such as petfluencers, granfluencers, and gen alpha influencers. But what else? All of the examples mentioned are real, living creatures, especially humans. There’s another type of influencer that’s not even real. They may appear to be real, but they never physically exist. Yes, they are AI influencers.
AI influencers are personas created by artificial intelligence that typically act and behave like real people. They post pictures of themselves, travel to various places, attend parties, and even advocate for social causes. Although these influencers are created using AI tools, their accounts are managed by a team of people whose goal is to secure brand deals. They’re built with sophisticated technology and are specifically designed to attract younger audiences such as Gen Z and Gen Alpha, who currently dominate cyberspace.
AI influencers are appealing due to their novelty and sophistication. It’s even reported that 60% of industry professionals have collaborated with AI influencers in their campaigns. Their 24/7 availability, scalability, and cost-efficiency make them an attractive option for many brands looking to represent their products.
If your brand is considering collaborating with AI influencers, you might want to know who the major players in this field are and the stories behind them. Keep reading to find one that suits your brand voice!
1. Miquela Sousa (@lilmiquela)
Miquela is a Brazilian-American ‘robot girl’ based in Los Angeles, USA. She is currently the most popular Instagram AI influencer in the digital space, known for her activism in promoting environmental and social causes like Black Lives Matter. Other than being a youth voice, she shares her everyday ‘life’, including shopping, playing tennis, hanging out with friends, and celebrating birthdays. She has even posted pictures with real influencers and public figures such as Rosalía, 50 Cent, and Bella Poarch. This portrayal makes Miquela feel real and successfully blurs the line between reality and the virtual world.
The AI influencer was created in 2016 by Trevor McFedries and Sara DeCou, the co-founders of Brud, a robotics and AI-focused entertainment company. Since then, Miquela has built a large community, proven by her 2.4 million Instagram followers. She has also secured collaborations with prominent brands across various industries including Calvin Klein, Prada, Dior, Samsung, BMW, Alexander McQueen, Timberland, and MSI.
Due to her sensation and influence, Miquela was featured in Time Magazine’s 25 Most influential People on the Internet in 2018. Is she even considered a part of ‘people’? Well, we guess netizens have decided.
2. Rozy (@rozy.gram)
Meet the talented AI influencer from South Korea, Rozy Oh. She is an AI model, singer, DJ, and fashion influencer who is also known as the nation’s first virtual influencer. Rozy was created by Sidus Studio X, a Seoul-based visual creative production studio, as a representation of Gen MZ (Millennials and Gen Z) and a fashion trendsetter. In an interview, she introduced herself as “the age of 22 without change and is an MBTI witty activist ENFP”.
Her debut as a TV commercial model in Korea happened in 2020. She has also appeared in a web drama and actively promotes the globalization of Hanbok, South Korea’s traditional dress, by participating in digital fashion shows. With her presence, it’s no surprise that major brands like Shinhan Life Insurance, American Tourister, and Coach have partnered with her for strategic collaborations.
Interestingly, the city of Busan has announced the AI influencer as the ambassador for the 2nd Busan World Expo 2030 along with Lee Jung-jae, a senior South Korean actor who played the main character in Netflix’s series Squid Game.
3. Lu do Magalu (@magazineluiza)
In 2009, the Brazilian retail company Magazine Luiza created Lu do Magalu as their ambassador to promote products and engage with Brazilian consumers through relatable tech and lifestyle content. But the result has been even greater. She is the most-followed AI influencer in the world with 7.7 million followers on Instagram. Lu consistently features content ranging from unboxing videos, product reviews, tips, and interactive posts. Her influence helped Magalu achieve a $552M profit in 2019.
Lu’s prominence has led to collaborations with big brands like Burger King, Red Bull, Adidas, Samsung, McDonald’s, Vogue Brazil, and more. This has further amplified her fame and strengthened Magazine Luiza as a brand.
4. Kenza Layli (@kenza.layli)
If she were a real human, Kenza Layli would likely be able to win international pageants,much like was crowned as the first Miss AI in 2024. Kenza is a Moroccan AI-generated influencer who wears a hijab and consistently shares positive messages through her content. Myriam Bessa, the founder of Phoenix AI agency, stated that she wanted to introduce a virtual personality that “could not only interact authentically with the community but also provide relevant advice and information on a variety of topics, ranging from technology to business.”
Kenza’s creation was a fusion of advanced AI technology and creative storytelling to develop an inspiring personality. Since day one, she has been productive in sharing content about fashion, beauty and travel, while also celebrating Moroccan heritage. Her Instagram now has 211,000 followers, and she has worked with brands such as Hyundai and Bioderma.
5. Shudu (@shudu.gram)
Shudu is the world’s first digital supermodel whose face may be familiar, especially to fashion enthusiasts. Her presence in the fashion world is unquestionable since Balmain, Fenty Beauty, Versace, Louis Vuitton, and Vogue have acknowledged her by working together in multiple projects.
Created by Cameron-James Wilson, a British fashion photographer and CEO of The Digiitals, Shudu has become the most successful of the AI personalities created by him. In June 2024, she reached a new milestone by attending Vogue’s AI Summit, where she interacted with attendees and participated in panel discussions. This appearance challenged the view that AI influencers cannot ‘exist’ in real life.
6. Aitana Lopez (@fit_aitana)
The pink-haired Spanish influencer, Aitana Lopez, has stolen many hearts with her social media posts. She is a gamer and fitness enthusiast who shares her daily gym routines, travels to new countries, or hangs out with friends. Initially, Rubén Cruz and Diana Núñez from The Clueless created Aitana to be used as a model for their clients, so they wouldn't have to be dependent on human models or influencers. It turns out that the 25-year-old with an attractive appearance can earn up to €10,000 a month, with an average of €3,000. She also collaborated with Nike, Bershka, Oysho, and Victoria’s Secret which helped make her name more heard and seen.
Aitana’s realistic and flawless appearance not only mesmerizes her fans, but also celebrities who are unaware that she isn’t a real person. "One day, a well-known Latin American actor texted to ask her out. This actor has about 5 million followers and some of our team watched his TV series when they were kids. He had no idea Aitana didn't exist,” said Cruz.
7. Milla Sofia (@millasofiafin)
Another AI Instagram influencer who has many people head over heels, despite the fact that she is not even real, is Milla Sofia. She is portrayed as a fashion model and musician from Helsinki, Finland. Her emergence took the internet by storm, thanks to her perfect blonde hair, blue eyes, fashionable outfits, and luxury lifestyle. Just like Aitana, Milla’s hyper-realistic look often leads people to mistake her for a real person who breathes and eats. However, she has been upfront about the fact that she is an AI-generated persona, as stated on her website and Instagram bio.
According to her agent, Milla was created to be the advertising face of a Finnish online store. No one predicted her popularity would exceed expectations, but well, it happened. As evidence of her influence, several renowned media outlets like The Independent, Daily Mail, and New York Post have featured her stories. Now, the 24-year-old virtual girl is collaborating with a Finnish brand called Tyyliluuri.fi and hopes to expand her journey in the fashion world.
8. Imma (@imma.gram)
What better way to attract Gen Z attention than with an aesthetic feed and a vibrant lifestyle? Tokyo-based fashion and modern culture influencer Imma has shown how AI can smoothly integrate into everyday life and look… so real. Imma is Japan’s first virtual model, recognized for her eccentric pink bob hairstyle. She loves exploring fashion, culture, and sometimes discusses social issues or her curiosity about many things. She was created by ModelingCafe and Aww Inc., and began her debut in 2018.
Imma has collaborated on various projects with brands like Porsche Japan, Dior, Puma, Coach, IKEA, Valentino, Amazon, and Lenovo. Even cooler, she was involved in a TED Talk where she interacted with the audience virtually, and has often been seen ‘attending’ events ranging from car races to conferences and product launches. Imma sometimes posts her catchup with fellow AI influencers like Miquela and Plusticboy, which makes her feel even more real.
9. Leya Love (@leyalovenature)
As her username suggests, Leya Love is an advocate for environmental issues and sustainable living, known for her eco-friendly content. Brought to life by Cosmiq Unieverse AG, Leya is a powerful AI influencer with more than half a million followers on Instagram. Besides her love for nature and planet Earth, Leya enjoys photography, dancing, art, and music.
Her well-educated background is seen through her co-authorship of the Amazon best-selling book Life Values: When Dreams Become True! (Werte-Voll Leben) and her achievement of being a virtual speaker at the 2021 Global Youth Summit hosted by the United Nations. Want to be more impressed? Leya is also an NFT artist who has dropped her art pieces on Rarible and Opensea.
10. Kyra (@kyraonig)
Kyra is India’s first AI influencer ‘born’ by George Tharian and Himanshu Goel through FUTR Studios. She posts not only for fun, but for bigger purposes: promoting her culture and bringing the audience deeper into her world. She often appears wrapped in Indian traditional attires or shows her latest activities.
Throughout her career as an influencer, Kyra has partnered with high-profile brands like L’Oréal, realme, and Amazon. Her most influential collaboration was with Prime Video in 2022, where she promoted The Peripheral series. For her career and fame, Kyra won the WhosNext2023 AI Creator of the Year award.
Conclusion
AI influencers have introduced variation in brands' approach to influencer marketing. Their hyper-curated appearances are perfect for brands looking to highlight their luxury, futuristic qualities, or modern aesthetics. When the right AI influencer aligns with a sharp strategy, any brand can achieve satisfying results.
However, it's important to consider carefully when deciding to work with AI influencers to maintain your brand's authenticity, transparency, and trustworthiness. All of this can be achieved through responsible and ethical AI usage in influencer marketing. On the other hand, there are areas better represented by humans, as AI cannot replicate emotions and feelings. So, which approach will work best for your brand? The choice is yours.
