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AI influencers are reshaping the marketing industry by offering a cost-effective, engaging, and innovative alternative to traditional human influencers.
From fashion to technology, virtual influencers are gaining traction across industries, driving higher engagement rates, and delivering impressive returns on investment.
These AI-driven personalities are not just a trend—they represent a shift in how brands connect with audiences in the digital age.
This blog post dives into key statistics that highlight the growth, potential, and challenges of AI influencers.
Keep reading to discover valuable insights into how they’re revolutionizing influencer marketing.
P.S. Struggling to find authentic influencers who align with your brand? inBeat.co is here to help. With unlimited searches, fast results, and free tools like engagement rate calculators and fake follower checkers, it’s never been easier to discover influencers that drive results. Book a free demo today and start building your dream campaigns effortlessly!
Let’s explore key data points that reveal how virtual influencers are reshaping engagement, reach, and ROI.
The exponential growth of the virtual influencer market highlights a massive opportunity for brands to explore innovative campaigns.
Leveraging virtual influencers can provide cost-effective, scalable solutions with precise targeting, especially in industries like gaming, fashion, and tech where digital personas resonate deeply.
1. As reported by Territory Influence, the virtual influencer market is worth $4.6 billion and is anticipated to expand by 26% by 2025.
2. This growth is projected to continue, with the global market size estimated at $37.8 billion by 2030.
3. This rapid expansion is reflected in the market's projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 38.9% from 2023 to 2030, far outpacing the 17.9% CAGR of the real influencer market during the same period.
Our prediction: As the virtual influencer market continues to expand, we’ll likely see advancements in AI-driven customization, allowing brands to create hyper-personalized virtual influencers tailored to their unique audience demographics and branding goals.
While a majority of marketers recognize the potential of virtual influencers, the 43% interest rate suggests that this technology is still in its adoption phase.
Brands looking for a competitive edge can seize this moment to experiment with AI influencers and build expertise before the market becomes saturated.
4. According to What's the Big Data, 71% of brands think AI influencers can provide a higher ROI compared to human influencers.
5. A majority of marketers, 52.8%, believe that virtual influencers will significantly shape the future of marketing.
6. According to a study by AspireIQ, 37% of marketers think virtual influencers could eventually take the place of real influencers.
7. In a September 2024 survey, approximately 57% of U.S. marketers working with influencers reported no interest in virtual or AI-generated influencers, while 43% were interested.
Our prediction: As AI influencer technology matures and skepticism decreases, more marketers will integrate virtual influencers into their campaigns, particularly for precision-targeted niches and global markets where scalability and consistency are crucial. Expect the 43% interest rate to grow significantly within the next 3-5 years.
The rising number of followers for virtual influencers globally suggests a growing consumer interest in AI-generated personas.
Brands can capitalize on this trend, but you’ll need narratives that emphasize relatability and authenticity.
After all, these factors significantly influence purchase intent.
Besides, the numbers below show that purchase intent for virtual influencers currently lags behind real influencers.
Even so, their lower percentage of negative ratings indicates untapped potential.
To capitalize on this, you can address authenticity concerns and incorporate real-world relatability into AI personas.
8. A survey revealed that 52% of social media users in the United States already follow a virtual influencer, with the percentage being even higher on a global scale.
9. Opinions on AI influencers' effectiveness are mixed. Nearly half (49.3%) view them very positively, while 28% remain neutral. Smaller percentages find them somewhat positive (12.7%), somewhat negative (4%), or very negative (6%).
10. Purchasing behavior reflects these mixed opinions. A study by Rudeloff found that 31% of participants were likely to purchase products recommended by social media influencers (SMIs), compared to 20% for virtual influencers (VIs). Interestingly, 31% of the VI group remained neutral, while SMIs received more low ratings (27%) compared to VIs (21%).
11. Authenticity plays a significant role in influencing purchase decisions, with 39.1% of respondents stating that the perceived authenticity of an AI influencer is crucial in determining their purchase intent.
12. Real purchase actions show a gradual acceptance of AI influencers. 29% of respondents have already made a purchase based on a virtual influencer’s endorsement, while 27% are open to considering such purchases in the future.
13. Trust in AI influencers remains moderate, with 15% of respondents rating their trust in products advertised by virtual influencers at 7 out of 10.
14. Additionally, positive experiences with AI influencers are reported. According to an Influencer Marketing Hub survey, 50% of individuals who collaborated with AI influencers rated their experience as "very positive."
15. However, skepticism remains. A March 2022 Statista survey revealed that while 35% of consumers in the United States were open to buying products promoted by AI influencers, 65% were unlikely to do so.
Our prediction: As technology advances, AI influencers will likely evolve to better mimic human authenticity, reducing skepticism and bridging the trust gap. The acceptance rate is expected to grow as younger, tech-savvy generations become key decision-makers. Expect AI influencers to drive more significant ROI in the coming years as trust levels rise.
AI influencers affect the bottom line: they typically cost about 30% less than human creators while delivering better returns.
This frees up marketing budgets for bigger campaigns or creative experiments.
Smart brands are using these savings to test new ideas and reach more people.
16. A Gartner survey highlighted that replacing human influencers with AI influencers can reduce campaign expenses by 30% by eliminating fees, travel, and logistics costs.
17. Virtual influencer campaigns offer strong financial returns, with an average ROI of 13.7%, slightly exceeding the 12.3% ROI of campaigns featuring human influencers.
18. A study revealed that, in 2023, brands invested an average of $18,000 to $30,000 per virtual influencer campaign.
19. According to a report by Gartner, AI influencers can boost efficiency in large-scale campaigns by 20% compared to traditional influencer marketing.
20. Data from HypeAuditor reveals that virtual influencers can drive up to a 3% increase in engagement on platforms like Instagram.
21. However, sponsored posts by human influencers achieve 2.7 times more engagement than those by AI influencers.
22. Despite this, virtual influencers outperform human influencers in average engagement rates, with 2.84% compared to 1.72%.
23. Notably, virtual influencer campaigns in 2023 achieved an impressive average engagement rate of 5.9%, which is three times higher than the 1.9% rate recorded for real influencer campaigns.
Virtual influencers require significant upfront investment, but they pay off over time. Once created, they can work across multiple campaigns and channels without ongoing talent fees. You can reuse assets, scale campaigns quickly, and reach more audiences - all while keeping your long-term costs predictable.
Our prediction: As virtual influencer technology continues to improve, expect the average investment per campaign to stabilize or even decrease, allowing smaller brands to enter the space. Efficiency gains of 20% or more will make AI influencers an integral part of large-scale marketing strategies, especially for global campaigns.
24. A Statista survey conducted in March 2022 highlights the percentage of consumers in the United States who purchased products or services promoted by virtual influencers, categorized by age group:
25. A Pew Research Center study revealed that 81% of Generation Z individuals follow influencers on social media, with many being drawn to interacting with virtual personalities.
26. Another research shows that virtual influencers tend to attract more engagement from female audiences compared to human influencers. Women account for 65.50% of interactions with virtual influencer content, while younger audiences aged 13 to 17 contribute 11.6%.
As you can see, virtual influencers resonate strongly with younger demographics, particularly those aged 18–34, who are more open to purchasing products they promote.
So, your safest bet is targeting AI influencer campaigns towards Gen Z and Millennials.
Our prediction: Gen Z and Millennials will likely become more practical about virtual influencers. Instead of following them just because they're new and interesting, they'll care more about getting real value and authentic content. Gen Alpha, growing up with AI as a normal part of life, will probably take virtual influencers to new levels. They'll expect AI creators to know their interests and deliver personally relevant content.
27. Virtual influencers are gaining traction across various social media platforms, with a Statista survey from March 2022 highlighting their popularity among U.S. consumers:
Short videos rule social media now – just look at Instagram Reels.
This format works perfectly for AI influencers, especially in gaming, tech, and beauty.
These industries can use AI characters to create quick, eye-catching content that pulls viewers in and keeps them watching.
28. In content distribution, Reels short-form videos on Instagram account for the largest share of content used by AI influencers to engage with their audience. Traditional posts come next, followed by carousels.
29. In response to a survey, respondents shared their views on the industries where virtual influencers are most effective:
30. According to 52.8% of respondents, the adaptability of AI influencers is seen as a major factor shaping the future of marketing and entertainment.
Our prediction: As AI influencers continue to integrate into diverse industries, expect their role to expand beyond traditional niches like fashion and entertainment into more specialized sectors, such as healthcare and education. Furthermore, with the rise of Gen Alpha and their preference for interactive, multimedia content, platforms emphasizing immersive and short-form formats will see the most growth in AI-driven campaigns.
Virtual influencers can make a splash in big campaigns – just look at how they grab headlines and get people talking.
But when it comes to genuine engagement, human creators often connect better with their followers.
AI influencers are great for getting your brand noticed, but they're still catching up on building those deeper audience relationships.
31. Major brands like Samsung and Nike have spent over $1 million on virtual influencer campaigns.
32. Virtual influencers, such as Shudu Gram for Gucci and Dior’s partnership with Gal Gadot, highlight their growing influence, especially in fashion (51%) and beauty (47%), with expansion into food and lifestyle sectors.
33. Calvin Klein's campaign featuring AI influencer Lil Miquela achieved a 60% increase in social media engagement. This shows the potential of virtual influencers in high-profile marketing campaigns.
34. While Lil Miquela achieved an average engagement rate of 0.6% for her BMW campaign, this was lower compared to the 3.6% engagement rate delivered by human creators for the same brand.
35. Similarly, Aitana Lopez, a Spanish AI model, collaborated with brands like Nike, Fortnite, and Patagonia, achieving an average engagement rate of 2.9%, which was 1.03% below the usual benchmarks for these companies.
Our prediction: As virtual influencers become more advanced and capable of mimicking human-like interactions, engagement rates are expected to close the gap with human creators. Brands will likely combine virtual and human influencers in hybrid campaigns to maximize both reach and relatability, particularly in sectors like fashion, beauty, and lifestyle.
The key advantages of AI influencers—such as control over messaging and 24/7 availability—make them ideal for brands seeking consistency and scalability in their campaigns.
However, the ethical concerns raised by nearly half of respondents highlight the need for transparent and responsible use of this technology to maintain trust.
36. According to respondents, the biggest advantages of AI influencers compared to traditional human influencers are:
37. Approximately 43.8% of participants reported significant concerns about the ethical implications of using AI influencers.
38. The majority of participants consider the ability to customize or control an AI influencer's behavior and content output as crucial, with 42.6% rating it as "very important" and 33.5% as "extremely important.
Our prediction: As customization and control over AI influencer behavior become increasingly important, brands will invest in advanced AI tools to create influencers that align perfectly with their values. At the same time, regulatory scrutiny and consumer demand for ethical practices may drive a shift toward greater accountability and transparency in AI-driven campaigns.
Human and AI influencers each bring something different to the table.
Traditional creators have bigger followings and earn more, but AI influencers engage well with their audiences while keeping costs down.
Plus, brands don't have to worry about AI influencers going off-script or causing PR problems.
Instead of picking sides, smart marketers use both – choosing the right type for each campaign goal.
Let’s look at the numbers:
39. According to Twicsy’s study, human influencers continue to dominate the industry by earning an average of $78,777 per post, compared to their AI counterparts who earn $1,694 per post—46 times more.
40. The same study revealed that on average, posts from human influencers receive 414,754 likes, which is 5.8 times higher than the 71,491 likes obtained by AI influencers.
41. The study also found that 37% of human influencers earn income through brand partnerships, whereas only 8% of AI influencers use this traditional approach.
42. AI influencers are more inclined to promote adult content, with 31% participating in such endorsements compared to 15% of human influencers.
43. Harvard Business Review conducted an in-depth analysis of academic research and external studies to highlight the pros and cons of human and virtual influencers across five key factors: engagement, reach, diversity, reputation risk, and cost.
Our prediction: As brands seek to balance cost and impact, the use of AI influencers will increase in campaigns requiring precision, diversity, and scalability. However, human influencers will likely remain dominant in campaigns where emotional connection, authenticity, and broad reach are essential. Expect hybrid strategies that combine the strengths of both to become the norm.
AI influencers are changing the game in marketing.
They bring fresh creativity, adapt quickly to trends, and deliver results you can actually measure.
More platforms and industries are picking them up every day, giving marketers new ways to reach audiences and hit campaign targets.
Looking to work with influencers – AI or human? At inBeat, we help you find the right creators for your brand.
Our platform gives you the search tools and metrics you need to build campaigns that work.
Let's explore how we can help your brand grow with influencer marketing.
Try it today with a free demo and enhance your influencer marketing strategy effortlessly!
![40+ AI Influencers Statistics You Need [+ Our Predictions]](https://ghost.inbeat.co/content/images/2025/01/Al-Influencer-Marketing-1.png)