Virtual influencers are already able to compete with human creators in terms of audience engagement, but most of these projects are unstable and quickly shut down. Some AI accounts show an ER above 20%, and the maximum figure reaches 54.1%, surpassing the results of classic bloggers. Analysts from the digital agency AINET reported this to ppc.world.
Study: How AI and Human Bloggers Were Compared
Analysts at AINET (based on the LiveDune platform) compared 10 popular AI influencers and 10 classic bloggers in the lifestyle and travel niches with audiences ranging from 1,500 to 200,000+ subscribers.
Comparison parameters included posting frequency, subscriber growth and churn, as well as average Engagement Rate (ER). The main conclusion: AI bloggers deliver high ER but quickly lose their audience.
Key Figures: Engagement and Posting Frequency
The maximum ER of AI authors reaches 54.1%, significantly higher than that of human influencers. However, in terms of posting regularity, virtual bloggers lag behind: on average, they publish about 17 posts per month, while classic bloggers publish around 32.
Of the ten virtual accounts studied, only three regularly publish content, while the rest update their pages sporadically or sell courses on neural networks. Most AI projects stagnate or lose subscribers: the largest AI account with 211,000 subscribers lost more than 2,500 followers during the study period, while human authors grew steadily.
Why AI Bloggers Are More Expensive and Unstable
Maintaining a virtual character often costs brands 2–3 times more than working with a regular creator. Ruslan Minyazhetdinov, CEO of AINET, explains: the services of a good specialist cost about 50,000 rubles per month, while comparable quality from neural networks requires a team of at least three people: an art director, a visual manager, and a copywriter. Additional budgets go toward revisions and paid generations.
As a result, content often turns out to be monotonous, and users notice the trace of artificial intelligence. The market grows mainly due to the emergence of new projects rather than the development of existing ones. The novelty effect quickly fades, and accounts fail to hold attention over the long term: four AI bloggers from the initial sample were deleted before the analysis was even completed.
Forecasts and Prospects
Nevertheless, according to Go Influence forecasts, by 2030, every third blogger in Russians’ feeds could be fully generated by a neural network. Recall that analysts recently found out what Russians want to see in an influencer: the main criteria for the audience were sincerity, honesty, literacy, intelligence, and expertise.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do AI bloggers show high ER?
High engagement is explained by the novelty effect and the unusual nature of the content, which attracts users’ attention. However, this effect quickly fades, and few manage to retain the audience over the long term.
How much does it cost to maintain an AI blogger?
According to Ruslan Minyazhetdinov, high-quality maintenance requires a team of three specialists, which costs 2–3 times more than working with a human blogger. Additional expenses include paid generations and revisions.
Will AI bloggers replace human ones?
Despite forecasts about the growing number of AI bloggers, they are unlikely to fully replace human authors. The audience values sincerity and expertise, which are difficult for artificial intelligence to replicate.
Conclusion
AI bloggers demonstrate impressive engagement figures, but their instability and high maintenance costs make them a risky investment for brands. If you are considering using AI avatars for advertising, it is important to weigh all the pros and cons. Perhaps it is worth turning to professionals who can help create an effective strategy using neural networks while minimizing risks.