A fascinating trend emerging online is the creation of AI influencer girls – digitally generated models and personalities powered by artificial intelligence. From Lil Miquela to Imma, these virtual humans demonstrate the potential for AI to reimagine social media stardom and influence.
In this comprehensive guide, we explore:
- The origins and background behind AI influencer girls
- Real examples like Lil Miquela and Noonoouri
- How AI influencer tech works under the hood
- The role of CGI, AR, animation and generative AI
- Brand partnership opportunities for AI avatars
- Reception and controversy around influencer fiction
- The future of virtual celebrities and digital twin influencers
Let’s dive in to understand this emerging trend at the intersection of technology, influencer marketing and pop culture.
The Rise of Fictional CGI Influencers
In recent years, there has been growing popularity of fictional CGI models created through computer graphics and backed by fictional biographies. Some prominent examples include:
Lil Miquela
One of the earliest and most popular AI influencer girls with over 3 million Instagram followers. She is portrayed as a 19-year old Brazilian-American model and musician.
Noonoouri
A CGI fashion model represented by top agencies with real brand deals for Dior and Kim Kardashian’s brand Skims. She is depicted as Iranian-French.
Imma
Created by modelling agency The Diigitals, Imma is a Japanese AI influencer known for her interactive TikTok videos and speaking at tech conferences.
Bermuda
A digitally created artist and music producer presented as non-binary who advocates for LGBTQ+ rights and diversity in AI.
Rozy
An AI influencer girl developed by Russian company Neon who discusses philosophy and arts alongside posting lifestyle content. Brands can license her image.
These fictional computer-generated personalities blend AI, 3D art, AR filters, and branding to cultivate social media followings just like human influencers.
How AI Influencer Girls Are Made
A diverse mix of technologies come together to create convincing virtual AI influencer girls:
3D Modeling
Photorealistic 3D human models are constructed in software like Daz 3D, Blender, Maya, etc. to create the virtual avatar and outfits.
Motion Capture
Studio motion capture sessions capture movements and facial expressions from real models to animate the CGI influencers in a natural human way.
Generative Neural Networks
AI like GAN networks can generate faces, expressions, and photo-real imagery of the avatars.
AR Filters and Effects
AR development kits like Snap’s Lens Studio and Instagram’s Spark AR enable AR masks, filters and effects featuring the influencers.
Voice Synthesis
Using deepfakes AI techniques, natural sounding voices can be generated for the characters to create speech in videos.
Social AI
To automate social interactions, conversational AI is trained on past context to maintain their personality automatically through large language models.
These technologies enable influencers that feel startlingly human but are fully controlled through AI systems behind the scenes.
Brand Partnerships and Sponsorships
One appeal of CGI influencers is the ability for brands to directly dictate sponsored content and leverage their image through licenses without reliance on human models. Some examples:
- Lil Miquela has represented brands like Prada, YouTube, and Samsung in sponsored posts.
- Imma partnered with diesel to promote their watches by turning her arm into mechanical watch arms.
- Shudu Gram collaborated with Balmain by posting digitally created imagery of her wearing their fashion items.
- Noonoouri generated an augmented reality campaign for Kim Kardashian’s Skims brand.
As brand safety and relatability becomes harder for human influencers, AI avatars provide direct control and synthetic personality brands can tailor.
Reception and Controversy
However, fictional AI influencers have also garnered criticism over authenticity and setting unrealistic beauty standards:
- Concerns exist around promoting CGI models lacking realistic human flaws and proportions.
- Questions arise over ethics of fictional sponsorships, brand safety and disclosure from AI avatars.
- Lil Miquela’s sizable LGBTQ following felt betrayed upon revelations her persona was manufactured.
- Critics suggest focus should be on promoting real humans that offer true diversity.
- Risk exists of displacement if audiences favor AI avatars over human content creators.
The future role and responsibilities of AI influencers remain debated as the technology matures. Authenticity and transparency will be critical.
The Future of Virtual Influencers
Multiple trends point to expanded use of virtual avatars and digital humans:
- Mainstream Adoption – Already high profile brands are embracing sponsorship of AI influencers for digital-first Gen Z audiences.
- Personalization – 1:1 custom CGI avatars can be commissioned by anyone for a tailored virtual presence.
- Hyper-Realism – As computer graphics, AR/VR, and AI evolve, virtual influencers will become indistinguishable from humans.
- Digital Immortality – AI and biometrics may recreate digital twins of celebrities or historical figures after their passing.
- Decentralization – Blockchain and crypto incentives could enable fan owned influencers through NFTs and DAOs.
- Experiential Commerce – Shoppable metaverse worlds will leverage AI avatars as the frontlines for digital retail and services.
We are only scratching the surface of synthesizing identity, community, commerce and technology. The influencer arena may be forever changed.
Conclusion
While still an emerging trend, CGI virtual influencers provide a window into how AI, AR, and generative methods can synthesize believable personalities tailor-made for digital mediums.
The coming years will reveal whether these AI avatars are embraced as the next evolution of influencer culture or face backlash over authenticity concerns. True mainstream success will likely depend on maintaining transparency over their manufactured origins to build audience trust.
But if the technology advances to safely imbue these creations with creative expression and autonomy, they could transcend novelty acts and form the foundation for reinventing entertainment itself. We are not far from a world where everyone can curate their own AI companion, collaborator and influencer imbued with elements of the human condition that make interaction meaningful.
