YouTube Highlights the Growing Popularity of Virtual Influencers
YouTube has released a new report spotlighting the rapid rise of virtual influencers—AI-generated or digitally-created personas that are gaining real traction across the platform and beyond.
While it might seem surprising that non-human characters are attracting massive followings, in many cases, these digital figures are seeing major success without being tied to a real-world identity.
“Last year, a sample of just 300 Virtual Creators on YouTube earned over 15 billion views across videos, live streams, and Shorts—one billion of which came from the U.S. alone.”
This surge reflects a broader shift in content consumption, where personality, performance, and creativity often matter more than physical presence.
YouTube’s report highlights several virtual creators who are building large audiences, including Neuro-Sama, Hatsune Miku, and Code Miko, whom YouTube categorizes as a “Virtual Human.” In fact, YouTube provides a full breakdown of the different types of virtual creators, outlining the various formats and styles these digital personalities are taking as they gain momentum across the platform.
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The technology behind virtual characters continues to evolve, and it’s likely that even more of these digital personalities will emerge in the near future. This shift introduces a new dimension to influencer marketing and brand outreach strategies.
As YouTube puts it:
“This is another example of how the internet rapidly transforms niche trends into mainstream phenomena. This fundamental mechanic suggests that mainstream culture is simply a patchwork of subcultures. Marketers and brands, like viewers, should focus on their personal relevance.”
In the near future, AI-generated humans will become nearly indistinguishable from real people—blurring the line between digital creations and reality. This evolution will unlock new possibilities in content creation, where almost anything can be generated, shared, and scaled instantly, offering entirely new ways to connect with audiences.
We’re already seeing early signs of this shift. On TikTok, virtual characters now host live shopping streams around the clock, while Meta is developing AI-generated avatars of real creators. While these developments may reduce the human element in social platforms, they offer new value through constant availability, personalized interaction, and limitless creative flexibility.
It’s a fascinating glimpse into a growing trend—one that’s poised to reshape digital culture as AI tools continue to evolve.
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