"Researchers and analysts have identified hundreds of accounts across TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube featuring A.I.-generated avatars designed to look like attractive, relatable users. These digital personas post rapidly about hot-button issues like foreign policy, abortion and pop culture, often blending political commentary with lifestyle content to maximize engagement."
"A review of these accounts done by the Times found at least 300 such TikTok accounts, some of which quickly gained tens of thousands of followers and racked up hundreds of thousands of views. Most were not labeled as A.I.-generated, making it difficult for viewers to distinguish them from real people."
"Experts say they could be the work of marketing firms, content farms or coordinated influence campaigns. What is clear is that the barrier to creating these avatars has dropped significantly, allowing companies to mass-produce lifelike influencers at minimal cost."
"By flooding feeds with consistent messaging, these avatars can create the illusion of widespread support, subtly shaping perceptions."
Artificially generated influencers are increasingly populating social media platforms, particularly TikTok, ahead of the midterm elections. These A.I.-generated avatars mimic everyday Americans and promote pro-Trump messaging. Researchers have identified hundreds of such accounts across various platforms, with many gaining significant followings without disclosing their artificial nature. The origins of these accounts remain uncertain, but they may stem from marketing firms or coordinated influence campaigns. Despite TikTok's claims of no coordinated political operation, the presence of these avatars can create an illusion of widespread support for certain political views.
Read at Cassius Life
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