AI makes influence even more fake

Strictly speaking, the virtual influencer is not new. In 2016, a CGI avatar named Lil Miquela appeared on Instagram, presenting herself as an aspiring musician from Southern California. Miquela, created by Trevor McFedries, has hazel eyes, olive skin, freckles and a tasteful gap in her teeth; She often wears her brown hair in a double bun with straight bangs. Her racial ambiguity was a perfect fit at a time when brands were clamoring to increase their social media presence by appealing to as many audiences as possible. It was clear to anyone who looked closely that she wasn’t real, but that was part of the appeal. Miquela partnered with Prada, smooched Bella Hadid for a Calvin Klein ad and walked the red carpet at the Grammys. The project helped McFedries and his team raise millions of dollars in venture capital for their startup. Cyan Banister, a former partner at Founders Fund, said Wall Street Journal that the appeal was simple: “You can do the….”