The economy is growing rapidly. There are about 207 million creators worldwide. The sector is expected to grow to $528.39 billion by 2030. But beyond the current level of influencer marketing, brands and retailers are turning to new technologies. One of the most important of these is Virtual Influencers.

Virtual influencers

Virtual influencers are actually non-living, computer-generated individuals. They have as many fans on social media as real influencers. They earn money through advertisements and product promotions. Big companies like TikTok and Meta are investing heavily in this area.

There are two types of virtual influencers. All completely new characters. Two, digital forms of real people.

came in the first place

Virtual influencers, completely new characters, first appeared in China. The appearance, manner of speech, age and place of residence of these characters are all determined by brands or influencer companies.

For example, a company called Tmall has introduced a virtual influencer named AYAYI as the face of their brand, while other virtual influencers like @lilmiquela are staying on their own and getting brand deals.

There is another reason for coming to China. In 2018 and 2019, there were many celebrity controversies. One of these was the sexual assault case against rapper Chris Wu. Wu had several endorsement deals with brands ranging from Balenciaga to Coach. This controversy has caused great danger to the brands.

Because virtual influencers are fictional characters, they won't be implicated in sexual assault cases, told the wrong things, or cancelled. They work in a safe environment.

Celebrities

The digital forms of celebrities are also becoming virtual influencers. This helps to make product placement more efficient and create new content. These digital forms are made using information from real people.

Singer FKA Twigs has created a digital avatar called AI Twigs to manage her Instagram account and have conversations with her fans. Last year, their deepfake version was developed. The singer addressed her concerns about AI in a statement to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Subcommittee. "While sitting in my studio and focussing on my art, I will be using 'AI Twigs" later this year to manage my social media engagement. "

Advantages of this technology

They have a lot to gain from this technology. They are able to interact with fans on a large scale with their own look, sound, and personality. They can decide where, when and how to use this AI.

Talent agencies such as the Creative Artists Agency (CAA), which represents major celebrities from Chris Rock to Ariana Grande, recognise these achievements and seek to develop virtual avatars based on their prominent clients.

Experts say that creating digital looks of celebrities and other prominent figures leads to a more readily available version of that person. This is their digital identity. It was created with their consent, and they want to create an avatar of themselves to make it more easily accessible to ordinary people.

Taylor Swift is an example. One of the most in-demand artists in the world, Swift doesn't always get to interact with all her fans. But, an AI version can give fans the connection they want with their appearance.

When you chat with these avatars on Instagram or TikTok, you're not chatting with them, but with the chatbot version that's given their personality. It's like chatting with them. Some people like it. They will enjoy the experience of interacting with someone they admire.

Celebrities can also make profits by creating digital avatars. AI helps in building relationships on a large scale. If they have a digital avatar, they can be everywhere and keep in touch with fans or customers.