{"id":83839,"topic":"ai","source":"ClickOnDetroit | WDIV Local 4","title":"MSU researchers explore how AI influencers persuade consumers - ClickOnDetroit | WDIV Local 4","url":"https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/local/2026/09/16/msu-researchers-explore-consumers-connections-with-ai-influencers/","url_hash":"b1536bf2e9dc0ed77c8e002bf9b8c3c9af66ab1e","author":"","summary":"<a href=\"https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiuwFBVV95cUxNblktcEJfOEJMSVNsM3RPMjRJTFNBWkFPR0xRYkVoVE5OSkdTai1mOGZYaGdCWTR1TzdlbjZjaUduYXhpMDgydjFYZXVwSWZRdkE4alRrYVRYcHB5VXFwcU9yR3dhVFZNbmtJeTJ3b3B5ekhpSG92dU1xQXI0XzJCZm9jVHFIZEVTeG5xX0xZVGVnUUE0SkJtX0p3QXZYZE8zeUVTbmNZY3A1dnJxVUZHOFZmbVJCQWFTNXZN?oc=5\" target=\"_blank\">MSU researchers explore how AI influencers persuade consumers</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<font color=\"#6f6f6f\">ClickOnDetroit | WDIV Local 4</font>","content":"A new study from Michigan State University is examining why consumers can be persuaded into purchasing decisions by AI influencers, even when they know they aren’t real.\nAI influencers are computer-generated characters built by a brand promoting products on social media, just like a real person would. They have names, personalities, and millions of followers, and the business behind them is massive.\nLast year alone, brands spent $39 billion on influencer marketing around the globe, and that number is expected to keep growing.\nMSU Associate Professor and co-author of the AI influencer study, Juan Mundel, joined Local 4 on Wednesday to share some highlights from his research.\nUse the media player above to watch the full interview.\nCopyright 2026 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved.\nNick joined the Local 4 team in February of 2015. Prior to that he spent 6 years in Sacramento covering a long list of big stories including wildfires and earthquakes. Raised in Sterling Heights, he is no stranger to the deep history and pride Detroit has to offer.","image_url":"https://res.cloudinary.com/graham-media-group/image/upload/c_thumb,q_auto,f_auto,w_700/media/video/wdiv/bdd11a02-30b6-427a-bb4b-7651d74ee2a9/image.jpg","lang":"en","published_at":"2026-09-16T14:27:19+00:00","fetched_at":"2026-09-16T15:15:06+00:00","status":"read","starred":0,"extract_state":"ok","summary_auto":"A new study from Michigan State University is examining why consumers can be persuaded into purchasing decisions by AI influencers, even when they know they aren’t real. 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