The Rise of AI Influencers: How One is Making €10,000 Monthly
Published on: March 10, 2024
In the world of digital innovation, Aitana López stands out as a remarkable creation. She's the first Spanish AI model, a virtual entity designed by Rubén Cruz, the founder of the agency The Clueless. Aitana, with her distinctive pink hair and Barcelona roots, embodies a new wave in the modeling and influencer industry.
Rubén Cruz and his team conceived Aitana during a challenging period when many projects were stalled. They realized that relying on real-life influencers and models often led to unpredictable delays and complications. This led to the birth of Aitana, a virtual model designed to circumvent these challenges. Her creation represents a blend of artificial intelligence, graphic design, and market trends analysis.
Aitana's physical appearance, designed to be near-perfect, resonates well with the current societal preferences. She earns around €3,000 on average per month, with potential earnings up to €10,000. She charges over €1,000 per advert and has partnerships with brands like Big, a sports supplement company. She also engages with her followers on platforms like Fanvue, akin to OnlyFans.
The success of Aitana is evident in her growing social media presence, boasting over 121,000 Instagram followers. Her popularity has reached such heights that she even receives date requests from celebrities, unaware of her virtual nature.
The creation process of Aitana involves weekly team meetings where her life is scripted. Her designers, Rubén Cruz and Diana Núñez, along with Social Media Manager Sofía Novales, plan her activities, places she will 'visit', and the photos that will be uploaded. This meticulous crafting of her life story is essential, as people connect more with life narratives than mere images.
Aitana, unlike traditional models, has a distinct personality. She is portrayed as a fitness enthusiast with a complex character, reflecting the tastes and trends of contemporary society. This character design includes influences from oriental culture, evident in her pink hair and gamer persona.
Following Aitana's success, her creators have introduced another virtual model, Maia, with her own unique traits. Both names cleverly include the acronym for artificial intelligence (AI), reflecting their digital origins.
The Clueless agency has received numerous requests from brands for personalized virtual models. These brands seek to represent their values through a consistent and controlled image, free from the unpredictability associated with human models.
While this initiative offers cost savings and market democratization, it has not been without criticism. Concerns about promoting unrealistic perfection and highly sexualized images are prevalent. The agency argues that they are merely adapting to the aesthetics set by real influencers and brands, suggesting that a broader change in societal perception is required to alter these trends.
This story of Aitana López illustrates a significant shift in the modeling and influencer landscape, where AI and digital design are creating new possibilities and challenging traditional norms.