Virtual Influencers : A Human-Robot interaction on Instagram!
Welcome the computer-generated influencer.
Today every one of us is active on social media platforms like Instagram and is aware of social media influencers. For us, Social media influencers mean people just like humans, but today in the 21st-century term "Social Media Influencer" is way beyond our imagination.
While humans are probably still many years away from walking among robots on the street, running into them in the gym, or dining next to them in a restaurant, social media is one place where H2R (Human 2 Robot) interaction is evolving at a rapid pace thanks to radical developments in science, engineering, and artificial intelligence.
What Are Virtual Influencers?
Millions of people around the world are taking to Instagram to follow and engage with a new wave of online personalities: virtual influencers. virtual influencers or CGI influencers as they can also be called are fictional computer-generated ‘people’ who have the realistic characteristics, features, and personalities of humans.
They are becoming a real force to be reckoned with in the influencer marketing industry, with more of them emerging on Instagram every week Much like a robot may output “Hello, World!” to announce presence, virtual influencer creators leverage the first post to demo connection to the digital world.
Of course, virtual influencers don’t actually ‘exist’ by the traditional meaning of the word, so how do they work? Behind each of them are clever creators - brands and individuals with a keen eye for technology - who remain faceless. They are the ones responsible for growing their Instagram platforms and molding these virtual figures into the internationally recognized influencers they are quickly becoming.
Top Virtual Influencers to Follow
- Lil Miquela
Half Brazilian, half Spanish, Lil Miquela was one of, if not the first virtual influencer to be created. The 19-year-old is the brainchild of LA-based start-up Brud who specializes in artificial intelligence and robotics.
Lil Miquela has racked up a huge 1.6 million followers on Instagram to whom she shares her latest fashion looks as well as the new music she has released. Also teamed up with real-life supermodel Bella Hadid for a Calvin Klein advert and has even been listed within The Times’ ‘Most Influential People on the Internet in 2018.
- Shudu
With her slender silhouette, faultless skin, and breathtaking beauty, Shudu Gram has all the makings of a supermodel. Created by the fashion photographer Cameron-James Wilson in April 2017, she is completely digitally generated. Her creator was inspired by the South African princess Barbie doll, which he chose because of what he sees as a lack of diversity in the modeling world. she racked up 218k followers on Instagram.
Lu do Magalu
Lu do Magalu
She made her first appearance more than a decade ago on behalf of Magazine Luiza, one of the biggest retail companies in Brazil, to market iBlogTV on YouTube. Since then, she has been featured in product reviews, unboxing videos and she has also shared software tips on behalf of this retail giant.
Noonoouri
Noonoouri
She is 19 years old, has over 376k Instagram followers, works with the biggest brands in the fashion industry, and lives in Paris. Noonoouri has achieved what many dream of at her age – but she only exists on the web.
she has worked with brands like Marc Jacobs, Dior, and Versace, done advertising for Kim Kardashian’s makeup line, and is a ‘friend’ of supermodels like Naomi Campbell.
- Colonel Sanders
KFC made their own fictional fashionista and imbued him with the spirit of the chain's founder, Colonel Sanders.
The Virtual Influencer Colonel, newest in the ongoing litany of reimagined reboots of entrepreneur Harland Sanders, has taken over KFC’s Instagram feed, where he’s showing off his aspirational lifestyle, espousing vapid words of programmable advice and generally enjoying all the worldly benefits that being an artificial construct has to offer.
Knox Frost
Knox Frost
Knox Frost is the top male virtual influencer on Instagram with 757k followers. According to his Instagram account, the 20-year-old is from Atlanta. In one year, he managed to grow his following to more than one million followers organically.
Imma gram
Imma gram
Model and virtual fashion influencer, Imma was created by Tokyo-based CG company Modeling Cafe. To her 334k Instagram followers, she is the go-to for unique style inspiration due to her statement haircut and noticeable fashion.
Despite being computer-generated, she was featured on the cover of the computer graphics magazine CG World in July 2019. Since then, she has continued to take the online world by storm and has featured in many articles about the rise of virtual influencers.
Bermuda
A former Trump supporter that has since changed her political views, Bermuda is one of the most controversial virtual influencers on the internet. She is thought to have been created by Cain Intelligence, leaders in machine learning and artificial intelligence.
It seems trash-talking fellow influencers is what makes her extremely interesting to follow - and her 258k Instagram followers agree.
Blawko
Blawko
Just like Lil Miquela, Blawko has been created by LA-based Brud and describes himself as a ‘young robot sex symbol’ due to his streetwear style and tattoos and have 151k followers.
He’s perhaps the most mysterious of all the virtual influencer stars due to the mask that covers half of his face. What's more, he has become popular among users for his laid-back nature and on/off relationship with Bermuda.
Hripsy and Colina
Hripsy and Colina are virtual influencers from Sydney, Australia who spend their time guiding 138k Instagram followers through life. These digital twins mysteriously appeared on the virtual influencer scene in mid-2019 and are now known as the digital doubles of Hripsime and Colina Demirdjian, co-founders of Double Trouble Creatives.
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