Will the Next Generation of Influencers Be AI-Created?

I never thought I would entertain this idea seriously. For most of my marketing life, working with influencers, I believed that the essence of influence lies in human connection—the subtle yet powerful bond we form when we see a piece of ourselves in someone else. Authenticity. Shared ambition. Relatable journeys.

These are the things that make us trust someone enough to follow their recommendations, buy what they wear, or aspire to their lifestyle.

But recently, I found myself questioning that very assumption.

If I look back, some of the most influential characters in many of our childhoods weren’t even real.

Steve Hyuga taught an entire generation what it meant to compete with fire in your heart. The Ninja Turtles showed us how to fight for what's right (and eat pizza while doing it). Ash Ketchum made "never give up" more than just a phrase—it became a lifestyle.

(Yes, I'm aware these references may instantly age me. If you don’t know who Steve Hyuga is, please be kind and let me live in denial.)

None of them were real. But their impact was.

And no one has done this better than Disney. They’ve built global influence through fictional characters that connect deeply across generations. Characters like Simba, Elsa, or Woody are not just entertainment—they are emotional touchpoints. We cry with them, cheer for them, and buy into their worlds, literally. The proprietary IP behind these characters is a multi-billion dollar engine of merchandise, storytelling, and cultural imprinting.

So why not AI-generated influencers?

In today’s AI landscape, it takes just seconds to generate a human-like video. Combine that with voice synthesis, character development tools, and narrative design, and you have all the building blocks to create a believable, engaging, and scalable online persona.

Not just a face, but a story.

What if an AI influencer had a detailed backstory, personality quirks, and even a public journey of growth? What if they stood for something, advocated for causes, or made content that genuinely resonated with niche audiences? From livestreams to product reviews to brand collaborations—why wouldn’t people follow them if the connection feels real enough?

The question is no longer if this will happen. It’s who will make it happen.

Will large corporations engineer AI characters to push their products with surgical precision? Will entrepreneurs build synthetic creators to monetize through affiliate links, virtual coaching, or entertainment? Will we each have our own AI-powered alter ego, saying the things we can't, doing the things we wish we could?

This brings us to the unsung heroes of this new era: the prompt engineers, narrative designers, and digital ghostwriters.

Think of them as screenwriters, journalists, travel bloggers, and marketing copywriters all rolled into one. These are the people who will craft the origin stories, define the tone, build the relationships, and develop the growth arcs of AI influencers.

As much as this future is powered by algorithms, it will still be shaped by storytellers.Because at the heart of every influential character—real or virtual—is a story worth following.