AI-Generated Influencers Rake in $$$, Here's How Normal People Can Win Real Money

Author: Thomas
Date: Jun 23, 2025
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Ever feel like you're working hard but still falling behind, ont getting enough money to live?

Meanwhile, some influencer on Instagram is posting the perfect photo, scoring major brand deals, and living the dream. But here's the twist — she doesn’t even exist

That's right. We're now living in a world where some of the highest-paid influencers aren't even human. These are AI-generated influencers, and they're quickly becoming the it girls (and guys) of marketing. With flawless skin, zero drama, and 24/7 availability, they're pulling in real money — and they're not slowing down anytime soon.

Let's break it down: 

Who's behind these virtual faces? 

How much are they earning?

And can you, a regular human being, get in on the action?

🤔What Is an AI-Generated Influencer?

Imagine a character like Barbie, but fully digital — photorealistic, lifelike, and interactive on social media.

These AI influencers are created using a mix of 3D design, generative AI, deep learning, and CGI animation. No need for makeup artists, no scandal to manage, no burnout. Just polished, perfect posts that brands can control completely.

Some of the most famous names in the virtual game right now: 

Lil Miquela – a Brazilian-American robot girl with 2.6M+ followers on Instagram. 

Imma – a pink-haired Japanese virtual model with luxury fashion campaigns under her belt. 

Noonoouri – a virtual fashionista signed to a real modeling agency. They look real, act real, and — most importantly — convert like crazy for brands.

💰 How Much Are They Actually Making? 

More than you’d expect. A single branded post by top-tier AI influencers can go for $10,000 to $100,000 — and some are signing multi-million dollar contracts. Why? 

Because brands save money in the long run:

No scheduling conflicts 

No public relations risks 

100% scriptable content

In fact, influencer marketing agencies are investing heavily in AI avatars, with brands like Prada, Samsung, and Dior already on board.

According to globenewswire, the global virtual influencer market could be worth over 154.6 billion by 2032

💸 Case Study: How an AI Avatar Beat a Real Person at Selling 

On June 18, 2025, Chinese tech entrepreneur Luo Yonghao co-hosted a livestream with a digital avatar powered by Baidu’s ERNIE Bot 4.0, an advanced AI model.

The result? 

¥55 million ($7.65 million USD) in sales 

13 million live viewers 

133 products promoted in just 7 hours 

 More revenue than when Luo hosted by himself

That's over $1 million per hour, with an AI avatar as co-host. The AI wasn't just standing there — it spoke fluently, engaged the audience, and adapted in real-time.

This event wasn’t on a sci-fi movie set. 

It happened on Baidu’s e-commerce livestream platform Youxuan, with real customers making real purchases — and it’s sending shockwaves through the influencer industry.

💼 Why Marketers Are Investing Big in AI Influencers

Brands and content creators are turning to AI influencers because they’re scalable, reliable, and drama-free. Human creators get tired, go off-brand, or spark controversies — but digital avatars? They show up flawless, 24/7, and never go off script.

For marketers, that means 100% message control, lower production costs, and higher ROI. AI influencers don’t need photo shoots or location scouting. They’re built once and reused endlessly — with perfect lighting, multilingual versions, and personalized pitches.

It's no wonder that major brands like LVMH, Prada, Samsung, and even financial platforms and SaaS companies are shifting ad budgets toward synthetic media. AI avatars don't just reduce overhead — they convert better in many A/B tests, especially in influencer campaigns tied to e-commerce, fintech, and digital tools.

For normal people or small business, a YouTube channel, or a personal brand — using AI to automate your image, message, and monetization might be your next big competitive advantage.

🧑‍💻 Can Regular People Make Money from This?

Yes — and it's easier than you think. 

You don’t need to be a tech genius or have millions of followers. With the rise of AI tools and no-code platforms, anyone can create, manage, and monetize an AI influencer brand right from their laptop.

Step-by-Step Blueprint: 

1. Create Your Digital Avatar (No Tech Skills Needed) 

Ready Player Me: A beginner-friendly platform to design full-body 3D avatars for social media, games, or virtual content. Great for lifestyle or gaming personas. Ready Player Me 

Midjourney / DALL·E: Use these AI image generators to create stunning, unique avatar portraits and social post content with simple text prompts.

Synthesia / HeyGen: These let you turn text into videos where your AI avatar speaks like a real human. Perfect for creating spokesperson-style content or product explainers. 

ElevenLabs / Descript: Use these to add ultra-realistic AI voiceovers to your content or even clone your own voice.

2. Choose a Profitable Niche & Build Your Page 

Start a TikTok or Instagram page featuring your AI character. Your niche could be: 

Fitness Coach: Launch an AI influencer that shares daily workout routines, healthy recipes, or fitness tips on TikTok or Instagram. 

Travel Guide: Create a virtual personality that showcases destinations, travel hacks, or “bucket list” experiences — great for affiliate links and credit card promotions. 

Fashion/Beauty Model: Style your AI avatar with trending outfits, makeup, or skincare routines using Canva AI and post regularly to build a following. 

Finance/AI Explainer: Use your avatar to explain trending topics like crypto, side hustles, or AI tools — niches that attract high eCPM and serious ad revenue. 

Pet Persona: Yep, even virtual pets can go viral. Create a cute AI animal character and post funny or relatable content.

Use ChatGPT to script posts and captions. Use Canva AI for design. Let the tools do the hard work.

3. Monetize Like a Creator 

Affiliate Marketing: Promote products through Amazon Associates, RewardStyle, or niche platforms. Add links in bio, captions, or video descriptions. 

Sponsorships & UGC Deals: Reach out to brands offering AI UGC (user-generated content) and offer to feature them using your avatar. 

Digital Products: Sell AI-generated wallpapers, avatar templates, or niche-specific guides via Gumroad or Shopify. 

Livestream E-commerce: Host mini livestreams using your avatar (with tools like OBS + Synthesia) and promote real products — just like Luo Yonghao’s $7.65M livestream. 

YouTube Shorts & Reels: Monetize short-form videos using platform ad revenue, especially in high-paying categories like finance, health, and tech.

📈 The AI Influencer Economy Is Just Getting Started 

Global brands are already shifting marketing budgets toward AI avatars.

Why? Because it's measurable, scalable, and significantly cheaper.

The virtual influencer market is projected to hit $20 billion by 2030  

In China, the livestream e-commerce market hit $700 billion in 2024 — and AI is starting to dominate it 

U.S. companies like Meta, Snap, TikTok, and YouTube are actively developing AI tools for creators

If you're not already thinking about how to integrate AI into your brand — you're behind.

⚠️ What Does This Mean for Real People? 

Let’s not sugarcoat it: AI is disrupting creative jobs. Influencers, marketers, voice actors, models — all are facing a new kind of competition. But instead of being afraid, smart creators are adapting.

The opportunity now is: 

To use AI tools, not fight them 

To build hybrid brands (you + your AI persona) 

To offer something uniquely human alongside automation

Because guess what? AI can mimic a face and a voice — but authenticity, relatability, and trust still matter.

🧭 Final Thoughts: Adapt or Get Replaced

AI influencers are no longer a gimmick — they're a business model.

Luo Yonghao's livestream proved it: with the right AI avatar, you can sell more, scale faster, and outperform even the best human hosts. 

Whether you're a student, solopreneur, side hustler, or creative — you can build your own AI-driven brand today.

The tools are free or cheap. The market is exploding.

And the money is real, even if the face on the screen isn't.

So the only question left is: Will you watch from the sidelines, or build your own AI-powered success story?  

📌 FAQs: Everything You Need to Know

Q1: Who is Luo Yonghao, and what happened? 

He's a well-known Chinese entrepreneur and influencer. In June 2025, he co-hosted a livestream with a Baidu AI avatar and earned $7.65 million USD in 7 hours, outperforming his solo-hosted events.

Q2: How do I create an AI influencer? 

Start with tools like Midjourney, Synthesia, Ready Player Me, and ChatGPT. No coding needed.

Q3: Is this just a China thing? 

No. In the U.S., brands like LVMH, Prada, and Coca-Cola are already using AI avatars for campaigns. 

Q4: Can I monetize this without a big audience? 

Yes — with niche positioning, affiliate offers, or using your avatar as a freelance UGC creator, even small pages can earn.

Q5: Is this ethical or legal?

Mostly yes — as long as you disclose when AI is used and own the avatar/IP rights. Regulations are evolving, but transparency is key.

About Thomas
Hi, I’m Thomas, an influencer marketing specialist and blogger with a passion for social media trends and helping brands navigate the world of influencer growth. On Sequone’s blog, I share practical tips and in-depth insights for businesses and startups looking to connect with the right influencers and build impactful campaigns.

I like to talk about influencers across TikTok/YouTube/Instgram share intersting topics to light up your day. My focus is on simplifying influencer marketing and providing strategies that help brands of all sizes reach and engage their ideal audience effectively.

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