002 | The Rise of AI Influencers: Why Fake People Are Winning the Internet

04/30/25 • 4 min

Ever double-tap a flawless selfie only to realize... the person isn’t real? Yeah, same. In this episode of Everyone’s a Bot, we’re diving headfirst into the wild world of AI influencers—perfectly filtered, never-sleeping, algorithm-approved digital avatars taking over your feed.

Host Chris Smith pulls back the pixelated curtain on virtual stars like Lil Miquela, a CGI it-girl with 2M followers, brand deals, music drops, and even her own scandalous story arcs (spoiler: she got “hacked” by another bot). 🤖

But here’s the twist: these synthetic stunners might actually be better at being influencers than us real humans. No bad days. No awkward lives. No crying-in-your-car moments. Just flawless vibes—rendered in Blender and served straight to your FYP.

We ask the big questions:

Does authenticity still matter if no one’s real?
Why do brands (and followers) prefer bots?
And what happens to us when fake becomes the norm?

So if you’ve ever felt lowkey terrible comparing yourself to a perfect feed... only to find out it was built by a marketing team and a GPU—this one’s for you.

🎙️ Welcome to the age of synthetic fame. Let’s talk about why fake people are absolutely crushing it online.

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 – 🎙️ Cold open: “You knew it wasn’t real, but you bought it anyway.”
00:25 – Would you still follow your favorite influencer if they weren’t real?
01:19 – What AI influencers actually are: code, visuals, and branding.
01:50 – 👾 Meet Lil Miquela: The stylish, freckled, CGI queen with 2M+ fans.
02:20 – Scripted drama and AI lore: “I was hacked by another AI.”
03:00 – Why synthetic influencers outperform real ones: no cringe, no chaos.
03:14 – 🤖 If it feels real, that’s enough: authenticity in the age of bots.
04:06 – The comparison trap: real people vs. flawless digital avatars.

04:46 – 🔚 Outro: “Don’t trust the comments.”

#AIInfluencers #VirtualInfluencers #DigitalAvatars #SyntheticFame #LilMiquela #FakePeopleOnline #SocialMediaBots #CGIInfluencers #VirtualCelebrities #MetaverseMarketing #AIContentCreators #InfluencerMarketing #InstagramBots #DigitalIdentity #FakeItTillYouMakeIt #BlenderModels #AlgorithmCulture #FutureOfInfluence #AuthenticityCrisis #SocialMediaTrends #UncannyValley #CGIFashion #AIvsHuman #EveryoneIsABot #DigitalPerfection

We ask the big questions:

Does authenticity still matter if no one’s real?
Why do brands (and followers) prefer bots?
And what happens to us when fake becomes the norm?

So if you’ve ever felt lowkey terrible comparing yourself to a perfect feed... only to find out it was built by a marketing team and a GPU—this one’s for you.

🎙️ Welcome to the age of synthetic fame. Let’s talk about why fake people are absolutely crushing it online.

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 – 🎙️ Cold open: “You knew it wasn’t real, but you bought it anyway.”
00:25 – Would you still follow your favorite influencer if they weren’t real?
01:19 – What AI influencers actually are: code, visuals, and branding.
01:50 – 👾 Meet Lil Miquela: The stylish, freckled, CGI queen with 2M+ fans.
02:20 – Scripted drama and AI lore: “I was hacked by another AI.”
03:00 – Why synthetic influencers outperform real ones: no cringe, no chaos.
03:14 – 🤖 If it feels real, that’s enough: authenticity in the age of bots.
04:06 – The comparison trap: real people vs. flawless digital avatars.

04:46 – 🔚 Outro: “Don’t trust the comments.”

Previous Episode

001 | She Followed You First: Why Social Media Bots Feel So Real

1 Recommendations

You knew it wasn’t real—but you looked anyway. 👀

In this debut episode of Everyone’s A Bot: A Social Media Story, host Chris Smith dives headfirst into the DM that started it all. You know the one: “Hey cutie.” Zero posts. Maximum thirst. Somehow... you still felt something. Why?

We explore the weird psychology behind bot accounts that flirt, follow first, and trigger real emotions. From the dopamine rush of fake compliments to the eerie comfort of algorithmic attention, this episode unpacks why even the smartest of us get caught looking.

🤖 They're not catfishing for cash (yet). They’re farming your clicks, and your brain loves it.

If you've ever replied just to see what happens—or wondered why a digital ghost made you feel kinda special—this one’s for you.

🔍 You’ll Learn:

Why bots act more human than your ex
How flirty DMs hack your brain’s reward system
The fine line between fake validation and real emotion Timestamps 00:00 – Intro: “You liked my post. I followed you first.” 00:23 – That suspicious DM: Flirty bots and algorithmic blessings 01:09 – “What if she’s real?”: The fantasy behind fake profiles 01:52 – Bots aren’t scamming—yet. They’re farming your attention 02:40 – You replied for fun, but ended up 30 mins deep 03:22 – If it feels good, does it matter if it’s fake? 03:57 – Wrap-up: Trust is low, engagement is high + Next episode teaser #SocialMediaBots #DigitalDeception #FakeProfiles #OnlineTrust #BotAccounts #AIInfluencers #AlgorithmHacks #CatfishCulture #DMScams #EmotionalAI #HumanVsBot #AIConversations #DopamineRush #FakeValidation #TechAndPsychology #OnlineFlirting #BotSeduction #EveryoneIsABot #AIOnSocialMedia #DigitalManipulation #SocialMediaPsychology #FlirtyBots #ScrollCulture #InfluencerAI #RealOrBot