From Gandhi going viral to Cleopatra selling shampoo: The rise of AI influencers and what it means for brands

Mahatma Gandhi holding a salt pack and saying, ‘why march?’ or an ancient Chola king reacting to modern breakfast to Gen Z slang. Artificial intelligence (AI)-generated historical figures are going viral across social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok. While brands are watching closely, few are ready to jump in, while others dismiss ‘deadfluencers’ as nothing more than a viral gimmick.

According to Zebracat AI, AI-generated videos are expanding at an annual rate of about 35%, with forecasts suggesting the market could approach $15…