Hundreds of people wanted to meet influencer Nikki Bellini at Coachella music festival in California. They sent her invites to hang out in Indio Valley and Palm Springs. The funny thing? Nikki isn’t real. According to Indy100, she’s completely made by computers – what experts call an “AI-generated influencer” (a fake digital person created using special computer programs that can make realistic-looking images).
Despite not being real, Nikki makes $15,000 (about ₹12.8 lakh) every month through a platform called Fanvue. She has over 340,000 followers on Instagram who like and comment on her posts, even though she’s just digital pictures and words created by technology.
The Woman Behind the Digital Woman
Nikki was created by a real person named Nicole, who lives in Miami. Nicole launched this AI-made personality in January 2024. She uses advanced artificial intelligence (AI) – which is like smart computer programs that can learn and create things – to make Nikki look incredibly realistic.
Nicole manages everything Nikki does online. She creates content showing Nikki in swimwear and handles all the messages with fans. The platform where Nikki makes money, Fanvue, is a subscription service where followers can pay to see exclusive content from their favorite online personalities.
James Thompson, who is the Head of AI at Fanvue, has been watching how these computer-created influencers are changing the online world. He helps manage how these digital personalities work on the platform.
How Does a Fake Person Make Real Money?
You might wonder how someone who doesn’t exist can earn so much money. Here’s how:
- Followers pay subscription fees to see exclusive content
- Companies pay for brand deals (partnerships where the influencer promotes products)
- The digital influencer can “appear” at events without actually being there
- Creating content is cheaper because there’s no need for real travel, makeup, or physical photoshoots
Think of it like this: these AI influencers are like digital actors who never get tired, never age, and can be anywhere in the world through pictures without actually traveling there.
Other Computer-Created Stars Making Big Money
Nikki isn’t the only fake person making real money. Another AI influencer named Aitana Lopez can earn up to $10,000 (about ₹8.5 lakh) monthly through brand partnerships and subscription platforms.
The top AI influencers typically earn between $5,000 and $20,000 (₹4.2 lakh to ₹17 lakh) every month. Another virtual influencer called Ms. Kittie received over 500 Valentine’s Day marriage proposals, which boosted her earnings on Fanvue.
These digital personalities often make as much money as human influencers but cost less to maintain. They don’t need food, don’t get sick, and can create content 24/7 without getting tired.
The Growing Fake Influencer Business
The business of computer-created influencers is growing fast. Here are some eye-opening numbers:
- The AI influencer market was worth $6.95 billion in 2024
- It’s expected to grow at a rate of 39.9% CAGR until 2030 (CAGR means Compound Annual Growth Rate – the percentage the industry grows each year)
- These digital personalities are part of the larger influencer marketing industry worth $24 billion in 2024
- The whole influencer industry should reach $32.5 billion by 2025
- About 52.8% of marketing professionals think virtual influencers make a strong impact
- 63% of marketers plan to use AI in their advertising campaigns
Companies like working with these digital personalities because they’re cheaper than human influencers and can create content consistently. They never have scandals, don’t make mistakes in public, and always look perfect in photos.
The Strange New World of Digital Fame
The story of Nikki Bellini shows us something interesting about today’s world. People are forming connections with and sending meet-up invitations to someone who literally cannot meet them – because she doesn’t exist.
When Nikki’s followers saw posts about her “attending” Coachella Weekend 2 in April 2024, many didn’t realize they were inviting a bunch of computer code to hang out. The digital images looked so real that people thought she was a regular human influencer.
As AI technology gets better, telling what’s real from what’s computer-generated will become harder. The $15,000 monthly that Nikki earns shows that being real isn’t necessary to be successful in today’s digital world – sometimes, perfect computer-generated images can be even more popular than reality.
