AI Virtual Influencers on Instagram Are Stealing Content from Real Creators
A WIRED investigation reveals that AI-generated virtual influencers on Instagram are stealing stand-up comedy routines from real creators to build followings and drive traffic to adult websites.
A new investigation by WIRED reveals that virtual influencers generated by artificial intelligence are stealing content from real creators on Instagram to build massive follower bases and monetize their accounts.
Stolen Stand-Up and Virtual Influencers
One prominent example is Tiffany Sloane, an AI-generated persona with over 375,000 followers on Instagram. A video posted by the account was found to be a near-exact replica of a stand-up routine by American comedian George Brett Olson. Not only was the joke copied, but the background, clothing, and even some body movements closely mirrored the original. In early October, Olson published a side-by-side comparison video. Following the exposure, an apology was issued from Sloane's account and the copied video was removed, but the account itself remained active.
Scaling the Theft to Adult Platforms
At least eight comedians have been identified whose stand-up routines were recreated using AI characters and presented as original content. In some cases, even the pauses and hesitations of the original performers were duplicated. Comedian Julia Jasonas discovered that an AI character named Aylen Skye, with approximately 250,000 followers, published a video based on her material. When Jasonas contacted Meta, the company operating Instagram, she was reportedly told that the content did not violate community guidelines.
For some accounts, the stolen videos are not just about gathering views. They are used to lure users to paid adult content sites, including OnlyFans and Fanvue, turning creators' content into a funnel for potential subscribers. The operators behind these AI personas remain anonymous, and while some accounts are marked as AI-generated, the labeling is inconsistent.
