The Rise of AI Influencers Is Here

Get 25% off on Paired premium! Start your 7-day free trial by clicking the link here: https://www.paired.com/caranicole25 🎥 More about this video: AI influencers aren’t just a weird internet experiment anymore — they’re shaping culture, making millions, and raising serious questions about what’s real online. In this video, I break down the rise of AI influencers: how they started, the different forms they take, and why brands (and bad actors) are investing in them. From Lil Miquela to Nobody Sausage to AI-generated propaganda, this is a Black Mirror–esque world that’s already here. Want more videos on money, media, and intentional living? Be sure to subscribe for more video essays! ✏️ Check out my new newsletter, The Pop Finance Report: https://thepopfinancereport.substack.... !! Making money make sense—through media and pop culture. 🔍 Resources mentioned: 📷 My New Content Instagram:   / thefinancialfreedomgirl   📷 My Personal Instagram:   / mscaranicole_   📷 My TikTok:   / thefinancialfreedomgirl   My Patreon:   / caranicole   Mia Zelu's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/miazelu/?g=5 Vice's article on AI influencers: https://www.vice.com/en/article/ai-in... 2018's most influential people on the Internet: https://time.com/5324130/most-influen... YouTube cracking down on AI: https://techcrunch.com/2025/07/09/you... 💌 Want to support the channel? Here are a few ways! ☕ Buy me a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/cara.nicole 🥂 Join my Patreon:   / caranicole   📊 Budgeting spreadsheets & digital tools: https://www.etsy.com/shop/FinancialFr... 📨 Subscribe to my newsletter: https://thepopfinancereport.substack.... 🎥 Check out some of my other videos! 🎥 Let's talk the Buy Now Pay Later trap:    • Let’s talk the ‘Buy Now Pay Later’ Trap.   Let's talk the Golden Handcuffs Trap:    • Let's talk the 'Golden Handcuffs' Trap.   Let’s talk being house poor:    • Let's talk being 'House Poor'.   ⏰ Time Stamps: 0:00 An AI Instagram Influencer... 2:49 A solution to human flaws? (& Paired segment!) 5:47 what is going on?? 9:40 stolen content AI influencers 12:18 how did we get here?? 14:24 the money behind AI influencers 15:50 destroying our humanity? 17:06 what I'm trying to do 📊 Keywords for some sweet, sweet metadata: AI influencers, virtual influencers, AI social media, Lil Miquela, Nobody Sausage, AI propaganda, deepfake influencers, AI internet, artificial intelligence culture, influencer marketing, AI and money, AI trends, Cara Nicole, financial freedom girl, money and media, Black Mirror AI, rise of AI, AI Instagram, AI TikTok, AI misinformation, video essay #videoessay #ai #personalfinance