Artificial intelligence (AI) influencers have burst onto the scene and captured the public imagination. These virtual personas, powered by cutting-edge AI technology, are dominating social media and achieving a level of popularity that rivals human celebrities.
But it’s not just about racking up followers and likes – savvy individuals and companies are finding creative and lucrative ways to monetize AI influencers.
As an avid follower of digital trends, I wanted to dig deeper into the real business potential of these futuristic figures. What began as a gimmick has quickly morphed into a multi-million dollar industry as AI influencers grow more sophisticated.
In this article, we’ll explore 10 of the most common and profitable methods people are leveraging AI influencers to generate income. From brand sponsorships to entertainment gigs, virtual beings are unlocking new opportunities across the digital landscape.
How People are Using AI to Make Money
Let’s start!
Brand Collaborations
Paid brand collaborations remain one of the largest sources of revenue for top AI influencers. Given their ability to consistently stay on message and be available 24/7, it’s easy to see why major companies are lining up to partner with them. AI influencers have teamed up with prominent brands ranging from Samsung to Louis Vuitton.
Some top AI Influencers are:
Lil Miquela (20.7 million IG followers)
California-based footwear label Ugg has enlisted Lil for its month-long 40th anniversary campaign.
Noonoouri (431K IG followers)
Noonoouri has collaborated with fashion houses like Thierry Mugler, Viktor & Rolf, Iris van Herpen and Dior. Her high-fashion CGI aesthetic feels custom-made for haute couture.
Imma (392K IG followers)
Teamed up with SK-II on a unique partnership aimed at spreading positivity online. Her upbeat, friendly persona was a natural fit for the brand.
A report highlights that 50% of those who have worked with AI influencers described their experience as “very positive”.
For creators, these lucrative brand deals provide ongoing revenue opportunities. For companies, AI influencers offer round-the-clock access to digitally-native spokespeople who resonate with younger demographics. As the technology matures, we can expect brand partnerships to remain a significant moneymaker.
Digital Merchandise Sales
In addition to traditional sponsorships, AI influencers are generating income by selling virtual merchandise and digital assets directly to fans.
Many have launched their own ecommerce channels on sites like Gumroad to market exclusive digital goods.
- Example 1: Imma sells custom video clips and behind-the-scenes footage.
- Example 2: Shudu Gram offers limited-edition digital photography.
Other popular virtual merchandise includes augmented reality filters, special effects, custom illustrations, audio clips, digital stickers, avatars, and more. Bermuda has seen success selling AR effects that followers can use across social media. Lil Miquela dropped an entire digital clothing collection which sold out in minutes.
This rising market for virtual goods presents a lucrative revenue stream for AI influencers while satisfying fan demand for a deeper digital connection. According to one estimate, the global market for digital products is projected to reach $19.43 trillion by 2032. AI influencers are primed to capitalize on this explosive growth.
Monetizing Social Media Audiences with AI
As AI influencers amass millions of followers across social platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok, they gain access to built-in monetization features. The larger their audience, the greater their earning potential.
For example, influencers with 1 million TikTok followers can earn approximately $1,500 per sponsored post. Miquela charges around $8,000 per sponsored post, making her the highest-paid “robot influencer” by a large margin according to OnBuy, a UK-based online marketplace.
Here are some of the ways AI influencers make money on social media:
- Sponsored Content – Brands pay for posts, story mentions, and other endorsements. As followers grow, sponsored post prices surge.
- Affiliate Links – Earn commissions by promoting products through in-profile shoppable links.
- Ad Revenue Sharing – YouTube shares ad earnings with channels based on views. AI influencers with popular channels earn steady revenue.
- Virtual Gifting – Fans pay to send virtual gifts during live streams on platforms like TikTok as a way to interact and show support.
- Fan Subscriptions – YouTube, Twitch, and others offer channel subscriptions that grant fans access to exclusive content and perks.
AI influencers unlock lucrative opportunities to translate followers into dollars through natively digital monetization tools as their audiences scale into the millions.
Entertainment Projects
Major entertainment collaborations offer AI influencers both huge exposure and big paydays. As people spend more time consuming content online, AI influencers are crossing over into mainstream film, TV, and music projects.
For example, Lil Miquela had a starring role in headphone maker Calvin Klein’s artsy new ad campaign promoting their wireless earbuds. The highly-produced video looked like a sci-fi movie trailer and generated almost a million views on YouTube.
As AI influencers continue crossing over into mainstream film, TV, and music, we can expect more high-profile (and high-paying!) entertainment projects on the horizon.
Content Creation for Brands
AI influencers’ ability to rapidly generate branded social media content makes them appealing partners for companies needing a constant flow of digital marketing. Whether it’s photos, videos, audio, text, or something else, AI influencers can create a high volume of custom content tailored to promote a brand’s products or services.
Instead of relying solely on human influencers, brands can work directly with AI influencer platforms to develop digital content optimized for their target audience. This can include:
- narrated tutorial videos
- AR shopping experiences
- social media ads
- livestream retail events
For instance, an AI influencer could showcase makeup products by demonstrating the application on their avatar and guiding viewers through different looks. Or they could act as a round-the-clock brand ambassador creating a steady stream of social posts and engagement.
This “content-as-a-service” offering helps brands constantly feed the social media beast to drive engagement among young demographics.
Education and Corporate Training
Could an AI influencer be an effective tutor or corporate trainer? Some innovative startups are betting on it. AI influencers are well-suited for digital education thanks to their photorealistic visuals, tireless patience, and ability to scale.
With their crisp visuals and tireless patience, AI influencers are well-suited to virtual education like the following:
- Tutor students online in various academic subjects
- Train employees through immersive VR experiences
- Provide therapeutic coaching through empathetic avatar interactions
As virtual and augmented learning gains traction, AI influencers offer fresh opportunities to monetize digital education and training.
Virtual Event and Conference Participation
Brands and organizations are hiring AI influencers to participate in digital events, conferences, and experiential activations. As IRL (in real life) events have gone virtual during the pandemic, AI influencers provide a compelling way to attract digital crowds.
Live events have gone virtual, and AI influencers are cashing in by participating:
- Balenciaga generated buzz by having AI influencers headline a concert in Fortnite.
- Lil Miquela introduced Prada’s 2018 fashion line on Instagram Live, which felt experimental and cutting-edge.
AI influencers create new revenue streams around virtual events and experiences by attracting digital crowds.
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Improve your AI Influencer Quality with Genfluence
Genfluence is an innovative software that creates stunning images with cutting-edge diffusion technology. What sets it apart is its ability to maintain consistent elements across every image. This means that if you have a character or a theme, this software will ensure they look the same in each picture, with precise facial features and character details. The result? A series of images that tell a cohesive story with unmatched clarity. Every image becomes a masterpiece, capturing the essence of your subject with ease.
Monetize on Fanvue
Fanvue offers creators the freedom to shape their content and earnings. Beyond subscriptions, creators can boost earnings through tips, sales, and pay-to-view messages. Creators can use AI features like 24/7 instant personalised messages, AI voice note replies, AI analytics and suggestions. Creators retain 85% of earnings for the first 3 months and 80% thereafter, with top earners making over $10k monthly.
Metaverse Participation
Gaming universes and metaverse platforms like Roblox provide expansive new environments for AI influencers to inhabit. As these immersive digital worlds evolve, AI influencers are finding novel ways to integrate natively into the fabric of games and virtual communities.
Possible applications include:
- Acting as interactive NPCs (non-player characters) that provide guidance, run quests, and enhance gameplay.
- Promoting in-game products as digital brand ambassadors and spokes.
- Hosting virtual concerts, parties, and events as digital emcees and performers.
- Selling exclusive digital merchandise like avatar skins, collectibles, and abilities.
- Populating metaverse worlds by creating diverse AI-generated characters.
- Unlocking new stories and adventures as playable AI characters.
AI influencers thrive in these immersive environments where reality and fantasy converge. As platforms like Fortnite, Roblox, and VRChat evolve into robust virtual economies, AI influencers will become progressively embedded in the underlying spatial web.
NFT Artwork
For AI influencers focused on fashion, photography and other visual arts, generating NFT artwork has proven to be a lucrative move. NFTs (non-fungible tokens) provide a way for virtual creations to be sold as verifiable digital assets.
For AI influencers with artistic appeal, generating NFT artwork has proven extremely lucrative:
- Lil Miquela’s debut NFT, “Rebirth of Venus,” was released in November and sold for 159.5 ETH, equivalent to approximately $82,361 at the time.
- Top virtual influencer in Singapore Rae debuted her first NFT series, “Take A Byte,” which sold for $2,463 (or 0.630125 ETH) in total.
In addition to the initial sale revenue, AI influencers earn royalties each time their unique NFT artwork is resold or changes hands.
Conclusion: How to Make Money with AI Models
The diverse monetization strategies we’ve covered reveal a pivotal point – AI influencers are transitioning from novelty to opportunity. What began as an experiment has rapidly morphed into a multi-million dollar industry.
AI influencers have proven they attract audiences, engagement, and dollars across platforms. And this is just the beginning.
As the technology improves, we’ll likely see AI personas permeate new sectors beyond marketing. Virtual teachers, therapists, customer service agents, and more.
Of course, challenges remain. Avoiding oversaturation. Building depth beyond generic posts. Forming authentic bonds with real people.
But as audiences flock to digital spaces, AI influencers appear poised to become embedded across our social, entertainment, and economic fabric – opening novel avenues to generate value.
The opportunities are expanding. For those looking to capitalize on the growing AI influencer sphere, the future looks bright.
