🤖 AI created a social media influencer and it got $850k worth of deals in less than a year.
Social Media influencers tend to struggle to get enough deals from brands, and now they will have to face a new competitor: AI. Why are brands flocking to the virtual influencer market?
Virtual Human models and 3D printed dolls are abundant, but they have no social media presence until now. Sidus Studio X created Rozy, a social media influencer with a clean sheet of scandalous stories. No compromising statements, no scandals, and most importantly, no privacy issues. In short, a PR dream.
World: meet Rozy
Brands that target Millennials and Gen Z constantly look for new faces to promote their products to a critical audience. Rozy is 22 years old and always will be.
Created in August 2020, the AI model has already secured over 1 billion won (over $850k) with several brands in South Korea and other APAC markets. She has followed the footsteps of Gaming influencer Seraphine, created by Riot Games.
Is this a long-term move or a fade?
According to Business Insider, the influencer marketing spend will be $15 billion by the end of 2021, and virtual influencers will get a piece of the pie. A growing amount, according to available data:
There are over 5000 virtual YouTube influencers, and the estimate is for that number to triple by the end of 2021.
Virtual Humans allows you to create your virtual influencer and get funded. KnoxFrost, for example, has over 700k followers.
Instagram is filled with virtual influencers promoting brands, and the estimate is that there are over twenty thousand virtual influencers with more than 5000 followers. Here is M△Y△ promoting Puma gear:
Calvin Klein’s 2019 campaign with Bella Hadid and Lil Miquela was controversial for many but the start of a trend for others. Here’s the famous making-out ad:
Just a year ago, imma and IKEA also struck a partnership.
No tantrums and 24 hours workhorses
Virtual influencers do not have privacy issues, keep their appearance, and can work non-stop. So why not invest in them? That is precisely what Baek Seung-yeop, CEO of Sidus Studio X, said in a recent interview in Korea :
When Rozie is selected as the advertising model for a campaign, there is no fear that the advertisement will be interrupted due to an unsavory privacy scandal. In addition, since all scenes can be produced with CGI, there is no restriction of time and space, and unlike real people, it does not get sick or old, so the active period is long.
So, what are you going to use on your next campaign? Virtual or real influencer?
By the way, did you know Robots could become the new Michaelangelo?