\u201cLu\u2019s virtual influence began with her humanization,\u201d said Pedro Alvim<\/a>, Magalu\u2019s social media manager. \u201cBehind every image of her, there is a story.\u201d Lu apparently makes smoothies and lounges by the pool. Must be nice.<\/p>\n AI Influencers Are Raking in Millions\u2014Here\u2019s How They\u2019re Doing It<\/p>\n Nobody Sausage<\/a> took second place in estimated earnings per post, $33,880 for a single ad, but only posted one all year. That\u2019s $33K for clicking \u201cupload.\u201d Meanwhile, Barbie<\/a> has 3.5 million followers but rarely cashes in. She doesn\u2019t push products. She is the product. Alexa knows her name, the vlogs are just extra, and brand loyalty has been generational.<\/p>\n Then there\u2019s the TikTok crew. Janky & Guggimon<\/a>, the animated rabbit-cat duo from Superplastic, lead the platform with 11.6 million followers and a Prime Video deal. \u201cMost [celebrities] aren\u2019t any more real than Guggimon,\u201d says<\/a> Superplastic founder Paul Budnitz. Fair enough.<\/p>\n But here I am, trying to afford groceries while a dancing hotdog runs the algorithm. Maybe I\u2019m just tired. Maybe I\u2019m bitter. Maybe I miss the time before filters and algorithms, when the only influencer in my life was my older cousin with a driver\u2019s license and bad taste in music. Virtual influencers don\u2019t age, don\u2019t get cancelled, don\u2019t ask for PTO.<\/p>\n That\u2019s what makes them powerful\u2014and maybe a little terrifying.<\/p>\n At the end of the day, these characters are mirrors. What they reflect back is up to us. Right now, it\u2019s a sausage in Gucci boots doing the moonwalk.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/virtual-influencers.png\")
<\/p>\n