At the 1 Billion Followers Summit in Dubai, a panel discussion examined how artificial intelligence is reshaping digital culture and raising questions about the future role of AI influencers on social media. The session featured Egyptian content creator Farah El Kordy and Dhairya Patel, who represents virtual influencer Lil Miquela, with moderation by a media professional.
Farah El Kordy emphasized the importance of human connection through real experiences. “When it comes to humans, we connect to growth and imperfection,” she said, adding that audiences trust creators who show vulnerability and evolve publicly. She noted that AI may look visually appealing but lacks the emotional depth of human interaction. “Authenticity is what gets attention,” she said, calling AI influencers “just a bit boring” and stressing that the future is about humans and AI working together rather than replacing each other.
Dhairya Patel highlighted that AI influencers operate through collaboration rather than automation. “She is not real biologically but she is real in the sense that there is a team of humans behind her,” he said, describing the creation process as similar to filmmaking, where writers, stylists and storytellers contribute real emotions. Patel also pointed out the advantage of AI in brand stability, noting that virtual influencers “do not burn out” and maintain consistent content schedules. He acknowledged audience scepticism but said, “Access creates noise but it also raises the bar. Culture does not die it evolves.”
Both speakers at the summit concluded that AI takeover is unlikely. Farah said her personal connection with audiences cannot be replaced while Patel stressed that intent is more important than biology. The discussion highlighted that human creators bring empathy unpredictability and lived context, while AI offers scale consistency and storytelling support. Experts agree that the future of social media influence will belong to those who can combine human authenticity with AI tools to produce content that resonates with audiences.
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