The rise of artificial intelligence has led to the creation of virtual influencers, digital personalities powered by AI that build their own brands and followings on social media and streaming platforms. A growing subset of these virtual influencers are female avatars designed to be young, attractive women, colloquially known as “hot AI girls.”
These AI girls are engineered to appear hyper-feminine and appeal to the male gaze. They have big eyes, full lips, and curvy figures. They often wear revealing clothing and strike flirty poses in their social media posts. Some of the most well-known AI girls include Lil Miquela, Shudu Gram, and Imma.
Lil Miquela, created by the company Brud, has over 3 million followers on Instagram. She posts selfies, promotes brands, and shares details about her fictional personal life. Shudu Gram, designed to be a “virtual supermodel,” has over 200,000 followers and has “walked” in virtual runways for brands like Balmain. Imma is a Japanese virtual YouTuber who does makeup tutorials, tries on outfits, and answers personal questions from her over 4 million subscribers.
Critics argue these AI girls reinforce unrealistic beauty standards and a male fantasy of women. However, others see them as fictional characters and believe they have the right to exist. Their creators claim they are works of art and self-expression, and that their attractive designs are meant to gain attention and go viral.
Despite the controversy, AI girls continue to grow in popularity. As technology improves, they are becoming more photo-realistic and intricately designed. Some experts believe they could become the next media influencer phenomenon and permanently enter the mainstream, as audiences become more accustomed to virtual characters and augmented reality. The rise of hot AI girls ultimately reflects and amplifies issues around gender representation on social media and in technology as a whole. Their future is unclear but closely tied to how these issues progress.
The topic asks why hot AI girls are taking over the internet. In summary, they are designed to gain attention by pandering to popular beauty standards and the male gaze. They fill an interest in virtual influencers, and as technology and design continue to improve, they are well-positioned to surge in popularity despite criticism. They represent larger issues around gender in media, influencer culture, and AI that will continue to shape their development.