Muhammad Saleem

AI-generated influencers are making waves in affiliate marketing, pushing its growth to new heights.

Mohsin Ali, a digital marketing expert, told WealthPK that AI-generated influencers – digital characters – are being used internationally to promote products on social media, and they are truly changing the game in affiliate marketing. He explained that artificial intelligence has become an impressive source of earning for many, enabling even those with little formal education to market their products, blogs, and social media accounts.

“Owing to the rise of AI-generated influencers, the scope of digital marketing is expected to grow in future. People have started using them in videos, which are also being generated with AI tools,” he said. Since AI influencers are not real people, users are free to use them at their own will — without worrying about schedules, contracts, payments, or any other red tape. He said people give these AI-created digital characters names and post their photos and videos to keep viewers hooked.

“As a digital marketing expert, I have observed that many brands are seriously considering the idea of launching AI-generated influencers, as it allows them to call the shots. Brands sometimes take a hit when human influencers get involved in scandals or personal controversies. But with the AI-generated influencers, there’s no risk of such issues,” Mohsin Ali said. Hamid Mehmood, an AI researcher and computer programmer, told WealthPK that advanced technologies like 3D modeling, voice simulation, and language tools are being used to create virtual influencers.

Globally, people are now using these AI influencers to expand their e-commerce and affiliate marketing businesses. They even use AI tools to respond to comments round-the-clock. He said people involved in affiliate marketing or e-commerce businesses are always active online, thanks to the AI-driven support. In affiliate marketing, he said people earn commissions when someone buys a product through a shared link. AI influencers are now doing this job in a more advanced way.

They are able to highlight the salient features of products and persuade people that these products solve their pain points, he added. Hamid said computer programmers are enabling the AI influencers to post product videos, give reviews, and share links 24/7– without needing rest or supervision. AI influencers are like having a sales team that never sleeps, he joked. Giving an example, he said a single virtual influencer can promote several brands in one day across YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.

People often trust their clean and polished content. He said these AI influencers run on software that helps brands or even individuals save money while reaching a large audience. Hammad Ahmed, who runs an online garments business, said many small business owners are unaware of AI influencers, and how they work. Most of them believe that information technology is expensive and hard to manage, but we need to break that myth, he added.

Hammad said he is currently exploring the option of expanding his business without spending extra money on traditional advertising. “It's an established fact that female influencers attract a large audience. We are planning to create a local female AI influencer to draw in more customers,” he said. He pointed out that globally businesses and e-commerce platforms have started using virtual influencers in their online ads.

Hamid Mehmood said Pakistan is blessed with a large youth population, and we can take this technology to the next level by introducing it at schools, colleges, and universities. He suggested introducing short courses during the upcoming summer vacations to help students learn fast and obtain practical skills. “This technology is not just for foreign companies – our local creators can use it to expand their business and create job opportunities,” he added.

Credit: INP-WealthPk