Virtual influencers

This chapter aims to help people understand more about the evolution of virtual influencers, and the benefits they bring to sponsoring brands. The chapter also signposts some of the challenges related to this subgenre – most notably around ethics and compliance. Interest in computer-generated imagery (CGI) influencers is growing. The most influential virtual influencers possess detailed backstories. This chapter explores the concept of authenticity and asks whether non-humans can ever develop this quality. In the near future, the desired outcomes for virtual influencers will splinter into three separate but overlapping areas of virtual brand assistants; customer service representatives; and virtual influencers. This chapter examines these different outcomes in action.