AI influencer awards season is upon us | The Verge

AINewsTechAI influencer awards season is upon usEntries are judged on their ‘authentic narrative’ and whether they have the right number of fingers.Entries are judged on their ‘authentic narrative’ and whether they have the right number of fingers.by Robert HartMar 23, 2026, 12:01 AM UTCLinkShareGiftImage: The VergeRobert Hart is a London-based reporter at The Verge covering all things AI and Senior Tarbell Fellow. Previously, he wrote about health, science and tech for Forbes.First came the AI beauty pageant. Then the AI music contests. Now, there is an award for AI Personality of the Year — perhaps the inevitable next step for the AI influencer economy as it transforms from quirky novelty into a serious and lucrative industry.The contest, a joint venture between generative AI studio OpenArt and AI-powered creator platform Fanvue, with backing from AI voice company ElevenLabs, opens on Monday and runs for a month. The organizers said it is intended to “celebrate the creative talent ‘behind’ AI Influencers” and recognize their growing commercial and cultural clout.Contestants will compete for a total prize fund of $20,000, which will be split between an overall winner and individual categories of fitness, lifestyle, comedian, music and dance entertainer, and fictional cartoon, anime, or fantasy personality. Victors will be celebrated at an event in May that the organizers are dubbing the “‘Oscars’ for AI personalities.”To enter, you must develop your AI influencer on OpenA...