In recent years, the world of virtual influencers has seen a surge in popularity, with CGI-generated personalities promoting brands, living luxurious lives, and gaining massive followings on social media. As the AI craze continues to evolve, influencer culture is now experiencing a new level of surrealism.
AI-powered image generators like Stable Diffusion and Midjourney are now capable of fabricating entire feeds of internet personalities who don’t actually exist. These AI-generated influencers, predominantly depicted as conventionally attractive women, have taken over Twitter and Instagram, captivating tens of thousands of seemingly human followers.
These virtual influencers pose and preen in virtual thirst traps, leaving viewers amazed and often struggling to discern reality from illusion. While some hallmarks of AI image generators, such as skin-smoothing and repetitive backgrounds, can give away the artificial nature of these influencers, the overall effect is surprisingly convincing.
The journey through this uncanny valley is fascinating and, at times, eerie, as these AI-generated personalities blur the lines between fiction and reality. As technology continues to advance, it remains to be seen how this trend will shape the future of influencer culture and human interactions in the digital realm.