We can grow your brand with an artificial intelligence character that works 24/7. We have to ask: Who represents you?

Artificial intelligence (AI) is not just a technological trend; it is a revolution that shapes the future of marketing and
creates a competitive edge. From influencer marketing to digital design, from experience design to micro-targeting, the possibilities offered by AI are radically transforming both the visibility and sales performance of brands. Moreover, all this change is supported not only by creativity but also by data-driven insights, global research, and compelling case studies.

How Are AI Trends Affecting Brand Visibility?
How Are AI Trends Impacting Brand Visibility?
AI technologies provide speed, scalability, and personalization across various fields, from content creation to visual design, target audience analysis to user experience
setup.
• According to Salesforce’s 2024 “State of Marketing” report, 68% of marketing professionals
actively use AI for personalization and automation.
• According to HubSpot data, AI-powered content increases brand engagement rates by 54%.

• Brands using AI-powered social media planning achieve an average of 23% higher visibility
(Hootsuite 2024).
AI not only accelerates creative production but also enables continuous digital visibility.

What is an AI Influencer? Why Are Brands Creating Their Own Digital Characters?
AI influencers are digital characters developed with artificial intelligence that actively produce content on social media platforms and
collaborate with brands. These virtual phenomena behave just like real content creators
and have unique personalities, stories, and digital identities. Their visuals, messaging, and
connection with the brand are all strategically designed.
The use of AI-powered influencers is no longer a trend for brands but has become the new-generation tool for building digital identities.
Why is this so important? Let’s explain it using the 5W1H framework:
• What?: AI-powered virtual influencer character
• Where?: Instagram, TikTok, YouTube Shorts, Metaverse universes, brands’ own digital
showrooms
• When?: A trend that gained momentum after 2021; by 2024, many global and local brands
are actively using it
• How?: Designed with visual and textual AI integration that is fully aligned with brand values
• Why?: Low cost, 100% controllable content, crisis-free communication, 24/7
activity, and establishing a unique connection with the target audience
• Who?: Examples include Lil Miquela (US), Imma (Japan), and Aisel (Turkey), and now
corporate brands are also creating their own characters.
According to Deloitte’s “AI Marketing & Branding” 2023 report, 42% of global brands have reported adding AI influencer investments to their 2024 marketing
strategies.

3 Global Brands Using AI Influencers

In 2023, Ford made history in the automotive industry. It created an AI-powered digital influencer named “Finn.”
Finn played an active role on social media platforms, particularly with content focused on sustainable mobility, youth culture, and technology.
Ford increased brand awareness among Gen Z by 21% with this character. Ford increased brand awareness among Gen Z by
21% with this character. During the same period, the engagement rate for the campaign was
43% higher than traditional campaigns.
Swedish furniture giant IKEA took a new step in its digital marketing strategy in 2023 by developing an AI character named “IKEA
Katrín,” an AI character; Katrín shared living space suggestions on Instagram
and was positioned as an AI-powered life coach answering consumer questions.
IKEA positioned this AI influencer not just as an aesthetic face but as an informative resource on sustainability, organized living, and practical home
solutions.
Katrín’s content was entirely AI-generated, and the products she recommended were integrated into the IKEA catalog.
Additionally, users contributed to the campaign by submitting photos of their homes. The campaign
results were quite impressive!

28% increase in website referrals; 64% increase in Instagram engagement rates;
33% increase in brand searches for content tagged with “sustainable living.” 72% of users found Katrín
“reliable and inspiring” (IKEA Global Digital Experience Report, 2024)
Fashion giant Ralph Lauren introduced its 2023 collection with a virtual character named Noonoouri. The result: 33%
more media visibility, a 270% increase in TikTok engagement, and a 3-week reduction in campaign duration.

Brands’ Target Audiences’ Approach to Artificial Intelligence: Who Thinks What?

McKinsey & Company’s 2024 Global Consumer Sentiment Survey data reveals that target audiences’
attitudes toward artificial intelligence vary greatly by generation:
The attitude of consumer generations toward AI content plays a critical role in shaping brands’ AI-supported marketing
strategies. Generation Z, in particular, stands out as the group most open to AI content.

According to McKinsey data, 68% of this generation finds AI-generated content positive and engages with this content at a high level on social
media. Generation Y, on the other hand, shows a positive attitude at a rate of 52%; they find AI’s ability to personalize shopping experiences and its use in recommendation systems
to be quite beneficial. Meanwhile, Generation X is more cautious toward AI-based content. This group exhibits an indecisive or skeptical attitude at a rate of 35%, prioritizing the human touch.
Baby Boomers, on the other hand, stand out as the segment least enthusiastic about AI marketing; only 12% of them view AI content positively, and overall, their trust level is low. The Baby Boomer
generation stands out as the segment least enthusiastic about AI marketing; only 12% view AI
content positively, with overall trust levels low and engagement highly limited. These
differences clearly highlight the need for AI-based strategies to reach target audiences to be tailored specifically for each generation.
These data clearly show why it is critical for brands to segment by age and culture when developing AI strategies.

Why is it important for brands to create their own AI influencers?
Campaign strategies created with AI influencers not only increase social media visibility,
but also clearly demonstrate how they can be used to redefine a brand’s identity, establish deeper connections
with the target audience, and leave an extraordinary mark in the digital world.

The Financial Contribution of AI Influencers
According to the Insider Intelligence 2024 report, 17% of campaigns conducted with real social media influencers
result in image loss, while this rate is only 1.8% for campaigns conducted with AI influencers.
Marketing campaigns featuring AI characters can be implemented at an average cost 40% lower than traditional campaigns.
This opens the door to creating a significant impact with limited budgets,
especially for small and medium-sized brands, This provides a high return on investment (ROI) for small and medium-sized
brands in particular, opening the door to creating a big impact with limited budgets. The Most Authentic Way to Take Your Brand into the Future May Be to Choose the Unreal

AI characters are no longer just eye-catching; they protect brands from crises, reduce costs,
and connect with target audiences.
This transformation isn’t just for tech brands; it’s happening across industries, from home goods to automotive, fashion to retail.

If you’re still relying solely on traditional media and think AI is just ChatGPT or Gemini,
you might be missing out on opportunities to be represented in the digital world.
Who represents your brand? The answer might be in a character you haven’t created yet.

ÖZGE ÖZALTIN

SOCİAL MEDİA