Inside the World's Largest AI Personality Contest: Are Virtual Influencers the Future?

Thousands of AI-generated personalities are competing in the AI Personality of the Year Awards, a global contest organized by OpenArt and Fanvue. The competition spans categories like entertainment, lifestyle, comedy, fitness, and fantasy, with over 3,300 submissions and more than $90,000 in prizes.

Organizers say AI personalities are becoming mainstream, with loyal fanbases and major brand deals. One top entrant, Jae Young Joon, an AI Korean male model, has over 400,000 followers on Instagram and TikTok. His creator, Luc Thierry, notes audiences may care more about emotional connection than reality.

Criticism persists over unrealistic body images and ethics. A University of Toronto study found AI generators create disproportionately young, white, thin individuals with symmetrical features. OpenArt and Fanvue say they use guardrails against hate speech and explicit content, with human reviews.

Entrants come from diverse regions: 37% from Europe and the UK, 30% from North America, 18% from Asia, and smaller shares from Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East.