The steady popularity of influencer marketing, coupled with rapid advancements in AI and metaverse technology, is fueling the growth of a new social media superstar: virtual influencers. These computer-generated personalities function a lot like real human influencers. They post selfies and content from their day-to-day lives alongside brand partnerships with major companies. The only difference is they don't exist in the physical world.

Are virtual influencers a trend with staying power or more of a novelty for brands looking to cut through the noise of an increasingly crowded social media landscape? In this article, we'll define virtual influencers and how they work, the major considerations brands should have before working with one and some of the most prominent virtual influencers on the scene today.