Unpopular Opinion: I Don’t Think AI Influencers Are Going to Stick!

I know, I know — it’s 2025 and AI is everywhere. It’s writing captions, analyzing performance data, generating product mockups, and even scheduling your emails before you finish the draft. But here’s my hot take as someone who lives and breathes influencer strategy and partnerships:

AI influencers aren’t going to stick; at least not as main characters.. right now.

Yes, I’ve seen the campaigns, they’re cool on the surface. The design is sharp, the visuals are often stunning, and the brands involved get a PR bump just from experimenting with this “new era of influence.”

But… let's be honest: are people really connecting with them?

💫 The Illusion of Authenticity

Influence "real influence" is built on trust, relatability, and emotional resonance. It’s when a creator tells you about the moisturizer that actually fixed their skin or walks you through a breakup while sipping coffee on IG Stories. It’s the chaos, the nuance, the human-ness that keeps followers invested.

AI “influencers” don’t have real skin. They don’t know what it feels like to deal with hormonal acne or imposter syndrome or a rejection email from a brand they really loved. So when they promote products or show up in campaigns, it’s just that... a promotion. No story.

We're not just selling aesthetic content anymore, we’re selling connection. And AI can’t fake that. (At least not yet.)

📌 The Delusion of “Scalability” in Influencer Marketing

I’ve been in the rooms where decision-makers say things like:

"We could create an AI ambassador and never have to worry about contracts, usage rights, or creators going off-brand."

Sure, in theory that sounds efficient. But it’s also... missing the point.

If your brand strategy is built around total control and not genuine storytelling, AI influencers might sound like the dream. But for consumers, especially Gen Z and younger, this reads as inauthentic, even dystopian. No one wants to feel like they’re being sold to by a machine.

📌 Where AI Could Work: Activations + Experiential Magic

Now here’s where I do think AI has massive potential: IRL brand experiences and activations.

Picture this:

• A brand launches a pop-up where visitors interact with a virtual influencer in real time — maybe even customize them with their own prompts or aesthetic inputs.

• A fashion label builds an AR mirror experience where an AI model “tries on” clothes for you and offers style tips based on your shopping history.

• AI influencers serve as guides in immersive brand experiences, helping users navigate pop-ups, exclusive events, or digital treasure hunts.

In these contexts, AI becomes a tool for wonder, not a replacement for real influence. It’s an add-on — not a lead character.

⚠️ My Challenge to Brands & Marketers:

If you’re obsessed with AI influencers because they’re “low maintenance” and “always on,” ask yourself this:

Would you rather have perfect visuals or imperfect influence that actually converts?

We need to get back to what made the influencer space special in the first place: people connecting with people, not algorithms connecting with avatars.

Use AI for what it’s great at optimizing, assisting, building upon. But don’t expect it to replicate the power of a creator who built trust one comment, reply and IG Story at a time.

📲 Final Thoughts

AI isn’t going anywhere, and I’m not saying it should. But as an Influencer & Partnership Marketer, I don’t believe AI “talent” will necessarily replace the messy, beautiful, unpredictable magic of real creators!

So NO... I don’t think AI influencers will stick as the future of influence.

But they might just become the future of experience.

AI influencers are popping up everywhere lately — what do you make of them? Do you think they could actually sway your opinion or get you to take action?

Would love to hear what you think!

Stay in the conversation! We’re locked in with all things #CreatorEconomy ✨

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