AI-generated surfer Bruce Ryder is back on the board, this time starring in a sun-drenched ’70s-style spec ad that’s catching eyes on LinkedIn. Bruce, a virtual influencer dreamt up by Australian creative Emma Barbato (a.k.a. “Miss Em”), has existed for years, but now cutting-edge tools like Kling, Midjourney, Runway Alpha, Google Veo, Hedra, and ElevenLabs have turned him into a fully-fledged character who could easily pass as a real-life legend of Bondi Beach. The action takes place in what appears to be a faux-biographical short film—just don’t expect a real movie anytime soon.
What makes Bruce’s re-emergence noteworthy isn’t just his bronzed digital abs, but how many creators now have access to produce this caliber of character work. The piece is an example of how advances in AI video and voice tech are closing the gap between concept and cinema-quality execution. According to Thomas Markland from HYDP, today’s tools have made photorealistic virtual influencers both more lifelike and far easier to create.
Will AI influencers eventually replace – or at least cannibalize revenue from – real influencers? Will consumers trust virtual influencers or will that human connection always win out? Add these to the long list of questions raised by the rapidly advancing capabilities of AI.
Read more at AdAge.