Non-existent model-influencer earns up to 10 thousand euros from advertising

Spain’s first anthropomorphic model created using artificial intelligence earns more than 10 thousand euros per month. AI influencers collaborated with a design agency to create a beauty that only exists virtually. They resorted to this method because they are easier to work with and manage. However, models created using artificial intelligence also attract a lot of criticism.

Artificial intelligence and advertising agencies are trying to replace real people with models. To see how much money agencies could make using such a strategy, Aitana was created. It is the first model in Spain designed by artificial intelligence, Euronews reports. Aitana became the face of a company that produces sports supplements.

Spanish design agency The Clueless developed Aitana, a 25-year-old woman with pink hair from Barcelona who has quickly become popular on social networks and designs up to 10 thousand euros a month through advertising.

The Clueless founder Ruben Cruz explained that Aitana’s goal is to serve as a model for brands working with the agency.

“We started to look at how we work and realized that many projects were being suspended or canceled due to issues beyond our control. Often this was the fault of the influencer promoting the nonsense, and not due to design problems,” Ruben Cruz told Euronews.

Every week, the agency team meets to create Aitana’s schedule, determining her weekly activities, choosing places to visit and curating photos for her followers eager to keep up with her life. To achieve this, the agents collaborate with AI experts who, using Photoshop, allow the model to virtually travel through cities such as Madrid.

“In the first month, we realized that people are attracted to lives, not just images. Given that Aitana is not a living being, we needed to bring a touch of reality to establish a strong connection with the audience,” explains designer Ruben Cruz.

According to Euronews, Aitana receives weekly private messages from celebrities asking her out on dates.

“One day, a famous Latino actor texted her to ask her out. This actor has around 5 million followers and some of our team watched his TV series when they were kids. He had no idea that Aitana did not exist,” comments Ruben Cruz.

Aitana’s success prompted the agency to create a second virtual model called Maya. She is noted to be “a little more shy.” Both project names in Spanish contain an acronym for artificial intelligence (AI). Brands have expressed interest in personalized virtual models that represent their values ​​without the hassles that can come with collaborating with live influencers.

The initiative has not been viewed favorably by everyone, although it is seen as a potential cost-saving measure for brands. It raises many ethical questions. Critics fear that the unrealistic perfection of models can lead to problems with the development of a “week body complex” and unrealistic beauty standards, especially among the younger generation. In addition, experts note the extremely sexualized image associated with virtual models such as Aitana.

The design agency responded by saying that the AI-generated models matched the aesthetics already established by the brands. The Clueless believes that changing the system will require a change in the vision of brands, as the current visual landscape is already characterized by a certain level of sexualization.

In today’s world, the capabilities of artificial intelligence are rapidly expanding, prompting tech moguls such as Elon Musk to warn people about “creating a monster.” At the recent AI Safety Summit in London, Musk told UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak that there will come a time when AI will make current jobs obsolete. It looks like this bold prediction is already coming true.