Industry · 2026-05-01

Brands increase spend on AI influencer collaborations in 2026

More brands are treating AI influencer partnerships as a core performance channel rather than an experimental tactic. Teams are allocating larger budget shares to virtual creators for rapid creative testing, always-on social production, and campaign localization. Compared with traditional creator workflows, AI personalities can support faster iteration cycles and more controlled visual consistency across channels. Agencies are also reporting stronger operational efficiency when combining AI influencer content with paid distribution and conversion-focused landing pages. As adoption grows, selection criteria are shifting toward profile quality, audience fit, and licensing clarity instead of novelty alone.