Gigi: The Rise of AI Influencers Transforming Social Media
Gigi is an AI influencer created by Simone Mckenzie, a 21-year-old University of Illinois student, using Google Veo 3 technology. Her videos feature realistic-looking but non-real elements, including visual quirks like hands passing through objects. Since launching, Gigi has amassed millions of views within two months and earns money through TikTok's creator fund, with a single video reportedly earning about $1,600 in just four days.
Unlike human influencers such as Kaaviya Sambasivam, who is based in North Carolina and has around 1.3 million followers but requires hours to days to produce videos depending on content, AI creators can produce content in minutes. This efficiency bypasses traditional production steps, enabling rapid and cheaper viral content creation.
The rising trend of AI influencers, sometimes called "AI slop," is surging and has the potential to disrupt the influencer economy, which Goldman Sachs values at over $250 billion. Experts suggest AI could democratize fame by allowing those with fewer resources to go viral. However, concerns remain about misinformation, scams, and questions of authenticity.
Other notable AI creators include Gamja, an AI-generated puppy with millions of views, and Daniel Riley, who produces AI-driven time-travel videos and runs a paid bootcamp to teach others. Gigi frequently asserts that she is AI, underscoring ongoing debates about authenticity and highlighting the need for media literacy among young audiences.
