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Aqsa Nazir Kayani
Sun Feb 15 2026
11 mins Read
AI influencer market is now worth over $6-8 billion and is forecasted to increase over 2026. The best part is that you can also become a part of this growing marketing for literally under $10/month.
AI Influencers are low-effort, high-income investments that anyone can create. Let me guess this very moment, you are wondering:
So, here it goes: yes they are making a LOT of money that I will break down in this post and yes, you can create your own digital twins and AI influencers too.
Want to know how? This guide covers exactly how these AI influencers make money, how much they are making, the income potential for new entrants, and 6 monetization strategies.
AI Influencer in Different Situations
The top AI Influencers are making the bank, but who is getting rich?
Their creators. Check this breakdown:
| AI Influencers | Niche | Follower Count | Rate per Post |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lu do Magalu | Lifestyle | 7M | $21,000 |
| CB | Kids | 3.8M | $11,400 |
| Lil Miquela | Fashion | 2.5M | $7,500 |
| Guggimon | Lifestyle | 1.3M | $3,900 |
| Janky | Lifestyle | 1M | $3,000 |
| Dayzee | Lifestyle | 689K | $2,067 |
| Leya Love | Environment | 556K | $1,668 |
| Giorgina | Lifestyle | 505K | $1,515 |
| Noonoouri | Fashion | 460K | $1,380 |
| Thalasya | Travel | 457K | $1,371 |
Most of these Influencers have solid agencies running and managing them.
The numbers themselves feel tempting enough to create an AI influencer. But it is important to understand that these AI influencers did not get to this point in a day or even two. It took them:
This is explosive growth and future-proofing of virtual personas in digital marketing!
Brands are actively preparing for synthetic creators in their content mix: they are already creating their own, as well as hiring ones that got followers.
The demand for virtual models is no longer emerging because it’s here.
AI Influencers are more profitable than human influencers, period.
Brands love AI influencers for this. Ok, maybe not all brands, but those who want to avoid being associated with a controversial influencer definitely do.
You must have heard that whenever an influencer gets into a controversy, brands start dropping them faster than anything. Their PR team has to step in for damage control.
AI Influencers don’t need a PR team because there is no controversy (wow what a controversial take). Everything related to AI Influencers is carefully curated, monitored, and tailored specifically to match the brand's voice.
This makes them a safe choice for brands to associate their product with
To be an influencer, you probably have to invest in a lifestyle to create a perfect image. Or to make it seem like your life isn’t actually boring. It takes time, and believe it or not, it gets expensive.
AI Influencers are cheaper to generate since all you need is an ImagineArt subscription. And let's be honest, you can create any type of AI influencer; it will always be more interesting than you.
Ok, pitchfork down, and think about it!
Would you want to look at someone who is …. you, or would you want to look at an ethereal, glowing persona that is just truly captivating?
No, we don’t lie to ourselves here.
How is that going to help you make money? Audience is more likely to engage with posts or content that feels unique. And brands love pages that has high engagement rate.
Unlike Human Influencers who get tired, cranky, or just … themselves, AI Influencers are available all day, every day. They are literally just a prompt away.
If you have created the AI influencer, then you can make them do trends as soon as they come. No practicing, no waiting. Just a prompt, a sample video, and you against the internet.
Brands can utilize this availability to their advantage by requesting or creating posts at any time. No matter if the launch is at midnight or during the day, their content will be ready to launch for promotional purposes.
Human Influencers evolve and change their vibe consistently. They’d be into goth for a moment and then follow the clean girl aesthetic the next.
With AI Influencers, this issue doesn’t exist because they are created with a specific image in mind. The content would be created for a certain audience and with a certain niche in mind.
The brands have full control over the type of content that will go live on the page as well as the promotion/advertisement style.
This allows the brands to maintain their own product image and message.
AI Fitness Influencer in Different Situations
We learned why brands may prefer AI over human influencers. But how can you cash in on the preference?
Like human influencers, AI influencers can also make serious money through brand deals. That is the revenue system that brings in serious money.
Take the example of Lil Miquela, a fashion AI model, who has generated over $10 million in income by partnering with brands like Dior, Prada, Calvin Klein, etc.
A digital influencer can change multiple outfits in a day, have a photoshoot in Paris or Milan, all for the low, low cost of a few bucks and an hour of your life.
However, if you are just starting out, your payment methods may vary, and it may take a while for any brands to even approach you.
You’d need time to experiment with your page and gain followers. Brands will approach you once you have a significant amount of followers and active interactions.
Brands aren’t approaching you? Don’t worry, you can still make money.
If you have been on the internet long enough, then you must have heard of the term ‘monetization’. Once you get enough people interacting with your content, and depending on your region and eligibility, you can get Ad revenue.
TikTok (popular for AI Influencers) offers creativity programs if you gain a number of followers or subscribers.
YouTube, the old reliable, considers you eligible for Ad Revenue once your channel hits 1000 subs.
Just remember that the Ad Revenue depends not just on follower counts, but also on:
Just because brands aren’t approaching you doesn’t mean you can’t create your own brand.
Once you have a number of followers, your AI Influencer can sell products or merch. You can use the ImagineArt AI T-Shirt Design Generator to get amazing designs in high-quality.
The best thing about using this tool is that you save money hiring a designer. Invest that money in quality products to keep your followers coming back for more.
Besides merch, some Virtual Influencers have made bank selling NFTs. However, you have to be careful and do your research, as some influencers have faced backlash for selling ‘scammy’ products.
Avoid anything that seems shady since you may lose your audience’s trust.
This may be the easiest way to cash in your AI influencer without doing much. Just like companies trademarking or licensing their logos and names, you can do the same with your AI Influencer.
But it may get tricky since AI-generated images are often the property of no one and everyone. You have to counter that by ensuring your AI model is consistent in looks, personality and niche.
This creates a persona that will help you stand out from the rest.
You can try out the AI avatar video generator to get consistent looks for your AI model. If you do it correctly, it can become intellectual property and will prevent anyone from copying you.
Earning from affiliate marketing can feel complex at first. It is performance-based and works by earning a commission for promoting a product.
At first, it seems similar to the brand partnership, but the structure is different, and the earning potential is long-term.
You receive a unique tracking link for a company or brand’s product and earn when people click and purchase through that link.
The more purchases generated through your link, the higher your commission. So, instead of a one-time payment with brand deals, affiliate marketing is a consistent deal.
Let’s break down the potential commission rates according to the niche:
Remember that these are just estimates and the actual rates may vary.
For the subscription model to be profitable, you need a strong follower base that you can convert into a paying audience.
It works similarly to traditional influencer monetization. You offer exclusive or ad-free content and encourage followers to subscribe through platforms like Patreon or channel memberships.
You can increase perceived value by offering request-based content, behind-the-scenes access, or insight into your content creation process.
This access lets the followers feel like insiders rather than just viewers.
It also helps stabilize income between brand deals and platform payouts, giving you more predictable monthly revenue.
In short, if you want your digital influencer to be successful, you cannot rely on one income model. Branch out and try to monetize as much as you can. Consistent posting and consistent brand voice are important factors to consider.
While the AI influencer market is profitable, there are some key actions you shouldn’t miss.
In the United States, the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) requires Content Creators to properly disclose sponsored content or products. The same rules apply to digital Influencers. If there is sponsored brands, it should be made clear with hashtags, captions, and even mentioned in the content.
AI is getting realistic, and it is getting harder to tell the difference. Its best to disclose that your Influencer is AI in clear terms so that the audience can be aware of it.
There are also ethical concerns regarding AI posing as real people to promote certain products. Failing to disclose the information can damage the trust of the audience.
Social media platforms like Instagram, YouTube, etc, are consistently changing their policies around AI-generated content. Stay informed and follow those polices the best you can.
It's best to be transparent about the source of content creation and stay up to date with the policies.
Having quality visuals matter but to retain the audience in the long-run, it's best to be authentic. The AI Influencer needs to have a personality and quirks. The best practice is to create something that resonates with the audience. Have a consistent brand voice and personality for your digital model.
AI Influencer market is growing, and the competition is rising. If your influencer is generic and can provide generic content, you are unlikely to gain reach.
Use tools like ImagineArt Motion control to create trending videos in seconds and maintain relevancy. Be strategic in your approach and have a consistent storyline.
Creating an AI influencer with AI is not just a trend. It is a monetizable idea that can be profitable if done right.
You can create realistic and interesting looking Influencers with ImagineArt. Just select the presets based on what you want your AI influencer to look like. Click ‘Generate’ and get instant results. You can animate the character and create trending content for social media.
Create AI Influencer Using ImagineArt
Once you are satisfied with the final result, can animate it and start your influencer journey.
So, what are you waiting for? Start creating with ImagineArt now and monetize your creation. This is something you don’t want to miss out!
Yes, anyone can create one. Tools like ImagineArt AI Influencer allow you to build a virtual persona in seconds. However, monetization requires strategy. You need a clear niche, strong content, and consistent posting to generate income.
Most AI influencers generate revenue through brand partnerships. Companies pay them to promote products or services. In addition, affiliate marketing and selling digital products can create additional income streams.
Yes, in most cases. They earn through sponsorships, affiliate marketing, product sales, and platform monetization programs. The key difference is operational control. AI influencers are fully managed by you, which reduces unpredictability.
It varies. Some accounts begin earning within a few months, while others take longer. Growth depends on your niche selection, content quality, and posting frequency. Consistency plays a major role in scaling revenue.
You need foundational marketing skills. Branding, content planning, caption writing, and understanding social media platforms are essential. The ability to analyze performance data and optimize strategy is equally important. The process is straightforward, but it demands focus and execution.
Aqsa Nazir Kayani specializes in SaaS and Gen AI, delivering search-optimized content that boosts visibility and strengthens brand authority.
