Thousands of non-suspecting people are falling for fake, artificial intelligence (AI)-generated girls posting provocative photos online, with many ‘virtual influencers’ amassing hundreds of thousands of followers and subscribers.
One “girl” called Milla Sofia claims to be a “virtual influencer and fashion model” from Finland and is followed by over 50,000 people on Instagram, 100,000 people on TikTok, and just under 15,000 people on Twitter. Her profile states, “whether it’s the catwalk or the digital landscape, my passion lies in showcasing the latest trends and pushing the boundaries in the ever-evolving fashion industry.”
Embracing the beauty of summer in my homeland, Finland! ☀️🌸#ExploreFinland #NatureBeauty #TravelGoals #MemoriesMade #Finland #Suomi pic.twitter.com/OFNNuWYAHI
— Milla Sofia (@AiModelMilla) July 12, 2023
The profile does not hide the fact she is an “AI creation” but appears so lifelike that most people following her across various social media platforms are yet to realize that she doesn’t exist. Comments on her post from men regularly read: “You are so irresistible whatever colour that you are wearing Divine Millia Sofia,” or “You look marvellous, amazing pretty, beautiful, gorgeous, stunning and breathtaking.”
The rise of virtual influencers serves as a “puzzling new turn in the road to AI content,” states Victor Tangermann from Futurism, adding, “If we follow human influencers for a parasocial taste of a glamorous lifestyle, why would we follow a bot instead?”
AI is developing an increasingly dominant grip on society despite its recent introduction. The technology is being used, among other things, to lure Russian soldiers into giving strategic information to the Ukrainian army and comedians who admit to being “out of ideas.”