Google and Microsoft offer lucrative deals to promote AI, but even $500,000 won't sway some creators

"Tech companies like Microsoft and Google are going after new users for their AI services the way any marketer tries to make their products look cool: through social media influencers. Other artificial intelligence players, including OpenAI, Anthropic and Meta, are also hiring social media creators to post sponsored content on apps like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and even LinkedIn. The payout for these promotions can reach into the hundreds of thousands of dollars, according to industry experts."

"Influencer marketing is now emerging as one of the next battlegrounds for users in the AI boom. The ad race is making its way to the biggest sporting event of the year in the U.S. Anthropic is spending millions of dollars to air a 60-second pregame and 30-second in-game spot during the Super Bowl on Sunday, aimed at OpenAI's recent decision to start showing ads within ChatGPT."

Megan Lieu is an influencer who makes content about tech and gives career advice on social media. Tech companies including Microsoft, Google, OpenAI, Anthropic and Meta are hiring social media creators to post sponsored content across Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn. Generative AI platforms spent more than $1 billion on digital ads in the U.S. in 2025, up 126% from the year prior, according to Sensor Tower. Influencer marketing is emerging as a battleground for users, with companies buying major ad placements, including Super Bowl spots, and paying creators substantial long-term fees between $400,000 and $600,000.

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