TikTok is reportedly working on adding AI avatars to its platform to create sponsored ads, potentially competing with human influencers. These AI avatars would be able to read scripts from advertisers or sellers on TikTok Shop. However, initial tests found that AI avatars attracted fewer e-commerce sales than human influencers. It remains unclear how TikTok plans to share sponsorship dollars between virtual influencers and human creators, as many TikTok creators rely on brand deals for income. The platform will need to carefully navigate the rollout of this feature to avoid alienating its user base, especially after asking them to advocate against a TikTok ban. Additionally, TikTok has previously experimented with AI, including a Song Generator feature and labeling filters and effects with an AI tag. Despite these developments, TikTok has not yet commented on the potential addition of AI avatars to its platform.
