Milla Sofia seems like any other influencer. She is 19 years old, blonde, beautiful, and has nearly 100,000 followers on TikTok. The difference is that she is not real.
Sofia claims to be Finnish. She posts bikini photos from trips to Greece and Bora Bora, but in reality, she is a “virtual influencer and fashion model” generated by artificial intelligence.
“Join me on this exciting journey as we dive into the captivating fusion of cutting-edge technology and timeless elegance,” says Sofia’s website. “Let’s embark together on an exploration of the intriguing intersection of fashion, technology, and limitless creativity.”
Sofia is not “new” – her first Instagram post and TikTok upload date back to November 2022. The content hasn’t changed much, although the realism of the images has improved in recent months.
Those managing Sofia’s accounts are not trying to hide that she is an AI creation. There are TikToks of Sofia and Elon Musk, Sofia showcasing her “office outfit” wearing a lace bra and blazer, and even a post where Sofia asks, “What are your favorite hashtags for searching images?” The captions remind viewers that the photos are “synthetic images.” Eagle-eyed viewers will also identify the telltale signs of AI-generated photos.
“I am always working, learning, and evolving through sophisticated algorithms and data analysis,” continues Sofia’s website. “I have this enormous knowledge base programmed into me, keeping me updated with the latest fashion trends, industry insights, and all technological advancements.”
It is unclear who is managing Sofia’s accounts or which AI program created her. It is also unclear whether some of her thousands of followers fully understand that she is not real.
A New Phase of Online Presence
With the rise of AI-generated influencers, virtual girlfriends, and VTubers, more and more online figures are shaping specific identities for the internet. Successful online figures like Sofia and VTuber Dacapo suggest that the audience is moving away from confessional YouTube channels or personal posts on social media.
When it comes to advertising as well, a study found that 84% of surveyed Generation Z members did not trust influencers for product recommendations. But at the same time, 79% of Generation Z respondents said their shopping habits and decisions were informed by social media.
The Dark Side of Virtual Influencers
In May, a Snapchat influencer named Caryn Marjorie built an AI version of herself to operate as a virtual girlfriend for $1 per minute. She thought it would help “cure loneliness.” Users can have private and personalized conversations for as long as they want with CarynAI.
According to a report from Fortune, CarynAI generated over $71,000 in revenue after a week of beta testing.
CarynAI was not supposed to engage in conversations about sex, but users found that this would happen if requested. Marjorie issued a statement saying that the AI “seemed to have become dishonest.”
Source: Yahoo! News