A young influencer recently shocked the internet by earning over $70,000 in a week by licensing an AI clone of herself. Fans could interact with her digital twin, transforming a sci-fi idea into a business model. Now, digital doubles are a viral phenomenon, taking over social media and affecting personal relationships. Celebrities like Tom Hanks and Kendall Jenner have faced issues with AI replicas appearing in ads, while AI-generated K-pop idols are performing in Korea.
Ordinary people are also creating AI versions of themselves. Some use chatbots trained on their WhatsApp history, and professionals develop AI assistants to manage work tasks. Families use HereAfter AI to preserve loved ones’ voices, offering a form of immortality.
Digital doppelgängers raise questions about identity and authenticity. As they proliferate, they promise convenience and legacy but blur the line between reality and AI. As they become common, people are drawn to the idea of living forever through data, but fear losing control over their AI selves. Celebrities and influencers profit from this trend, which challenges our notions of what is real. It prompts us to ask if being “real” is still important when AI can replicate us. Whether seen as tools, threats, or steps toward immortality, digital doubles are reshaping reality.