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Mai Nguyen, Lecturer in Marketing, Griffith University

Virtual influencers: meet the AI-generated figures posing as your new online friends – as they try to sell you stuff

Instagram / @lilmiquela/ @shudu.gram

The future of influence is here: a digital avatar that captivates millions of adoring fans while offering unparalleled customisation and round-the-clock availability.

Virtual influencers are transforming the way content is created, consumed and marketed online. They represent an electrifying dance between cutting-edge technology and our desire for connection. But, at the same time, they are yet another product being peddled by marketers that want our money.

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