Both of these influencers are successful – but only one is human (www.bbc.com)

A University of Illinois student, Simone Mckenzie, has created an AI influencer named Gigi, a hyper-realistic character that generates engaging video content relatively quickly and for low cost. Mckenzie's venture into AI-driven content creation reflects a growing trend in social media, where creators utilize AI tools like Google's Veo 3 to produce videos with absurd scenarios and surreal imagery. Gigi has garnered millions of views, generating significant income for Mckenzie, revealing the potential for AI-generated personalities to disrupt traditional influencing, which often requires extensive time and resources. The rise of AI influencers raises important implications for the influencer economy, potentially democratizing fame for creators who lack the means for high-quality production. Experts warn that while these innovations ensure faster content generation, they could also lead to increased misinformation and blur the lines between reality and AI-generated identities, especially impacting younger audiences. As AI tools advance, the ability of viewers to discern real from artificial content may diminish, sparking concerns around media literacy and content authenticity in an age of "AI slop."