The Rise of AI-Generated Ugly Influencers is Flooding Social Media Feeds
A bizarre new trend of AI-generated ugly influencers is taking over social media, accumulating millions of views while raising critical ethical questions regarding transparency.
A new and bizarre trend is sweeping social media feeds: AI-generated ugly influencers. While users have grown accustomed to AI-generated propaganda or reproductions of 90s television shows, creators are now deploying deliberately unappealing characters that are rapidly accumulating millions of views on Instagram and TikTok.
Prominent Israeli AI content creator Ofir Asher notes that these creators often take already viral videos and overlay them with exaggerated, unattractive characters. The process is remarkably straightforward, utilizing platforms like Higgsfield and ByteDance's Seedance 2.5 model to produce the content with minimal effort before uploading them to dedicated accounts.
The phenomenon has also taken root in Israel. A notable example is Elisha Rosen, an AI-generated persona boasting hundreds of thousands of followers across multiple viral videos. Crucially, the account lacked any initial AI disclosure, leading many followers—including public figures like Maya Wertheimer—to believe the character was entirely real.
Investigation into the account reveals ties to a company specializing in AI influencer creation, which even manufactured a sister named Tzipora Rosen. Commercial services range from thousands of shekels for custom videos to instructional courses and prompt bundles, though pricing structures frequently fluctuate following public exposure.
Beyond simple entertainment and advertising, the trend has international financial dimensions. Overseas creators frequently launch dedicated memecoins tied to these eccentric AI personas, driving up market valuations before liquidating their holdings for substantial profit.
Asher emphasizes the ethical concerns surrounding non-disclosure, arguing that users form genuine emotional attachments and trust these simulated entities without realizing their artificial nature. This lack of transparency becomes particularly problematic when deployed for cryptocurrency promotion or the sale of questionable products.
Looking forward, experts warn that automation and AI agents could soon allow single operators to manage thousands of simultaneous virtual influencers, potentially revolutionizing digital marketing. While the creation of AI characters is a legitimate business endeavor, advocates stress the absolute necessity of transparent labeling to preserve consumer trust as synthetic media continues to blur the line between reality and simulation.
