This is how virtual influencers are changing the social media game
Digital influencers are growing in popularity on social media, shifting the way we interact on our favorite platforms. In this episode of ITK: Behind the Screens, our host, Niamh Adkins (@niamhadkins), takes a peek into the fascinating world of virtual influencers to discover why people follow them and how they’re changing social media.
Niamh sits down to speak with Astrid Hiort, a metaverse and virtual influencer writer and consultant, to learn more.
What is a virtual influencer, and what are the different types of virtual influencers that we’re seeing today?
Astrid: “A virtual influencer is a 3D- or 2D-generated character that’s on social media. For the most part, they’re hyperrealistic, which means they are really close to looking like humans. A really famous one for example is Imma. She is showing off her life in Japan, so she’s done some really cool brand partnerships and now she’s turning into her own brand, creating her own clothing line basically.”
“Apart from the hyperrealistic ones, we also have the more non-humanlike. A very famous one is @nobodysausage. Sometimes they can have a storyline, but for example, @nobodysausage is more about dancing and creating these really fun sketches that I think we all find relatable.”
What is driving the creation and growing prevalence of these virtual influencers?
Astrid: “It’s great entertainment value. They can have super powers, or they can create really crazy environments.”
What role does AI play in these virtual influencers?
Astrid: “AI plays a role with virtual influencers mostly in the production process, which means that it can be an image that’s been generated by AI, or it can be the voice that’s generated by AI. But there is one really cool virtual influencer who I would say is the closest that would come to an AI influencer, and that’s Kuki.”
“Kuki is on Instagram, she’s also a chatbot on a website, so fans can basically go in and interact with her and ask questions, and even have a video call with her.”
Eager to learn more, Niamh connects with Kuki on a video call and meets with one of Kuki’s creators. Watch the latest installment of ITK: Behind the Screens to see for yourself.
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