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The Madison Avenue Field GuideA field guide to marketing & advertising, by Brandon Mina

GlossaryAI in MarketingVirtual Influencer

AI in Marketing

Virtual Influencer

A computer-generated social media persona that brands partner with or create to promote products like a human influencer.

By Brandon MinaCEO, BrandPilot AIUpdated November 2026

Short answer

A virtual influencer is a computer-generated social media persona that brands create or partner with to promote products, much like a human influencer. These characters have consistent identities, storylines, and followings. They offer creative control and avoid some talent risks, but audiences may question authenticity, and disclosure that the persona is not human is important.