NEW YORK, April 03, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — OpenArt, the main AI video technology platform, has partnered with author subscription platform, Fanvue, to release the AI Character of the Yr Awards. The worldwide programme is the primary of its sort to recognise the achievements of AI Influencers throughout content material excellence, cultural have an effect on, and business good fortune, with ElevenLabs becoming a member of in as a founding spouse.
The release comes because the AI influencer sector is increasing speedy, with professionals estimating its worth will exceed $30 billion in 2026, a part of a much broader author economic system this is predicted to hit $1 trillion by way of 2030.
Over the last 18 months, AI-generated personalities have embedded themselves into pop culture, development unswerving fanbases, and touchdown main emblem offers. The most important AI Influencers on the planet are serving as authentic ambassadors, together with Aitana Lopez, Spain’s first million-dollar AI influencer.
Early entrants for the awards come with Mexican LGBTQ+ Reggaeton artist RoRo Castillos, together with his Eire-based author Arturo Bustillos demonstrating the rising push from creators to champion LGBTQ+ illustration; courting trainer Juliana Zetici, who encourages real-life connection within the AI age and has even written a e-book, titled Learn how to Draw in a Lady Like Juliana, which unpacks how up to now with calm, readability and self assurance; and the United Kingdom’s first AI influencer Alex Laine, who targets to encourage younger ladies to take in soccer and enchantment to feminine Arsenal lovers.
A stellar line-up of judges has been assembled, bringing their experience throughout AI, advertising and marketing and social media. The judging panel comprises Communications and advertising and marketing guru Andrew Bloch; 13-time Emmy-winning comedy author Gil Rief; CEO of MCR company Sergi Cerrato; and Kevin Van Witt (Author of The Monster Library). Entries will probably be assessed on 4 standards: high quality, social clout, emblem enchantment and inspiration.
The AI Character of the Yr Awards have introduced a prize fund of $90,000. The total winner will obtain $10,000, whilst class winners throughout AI entertainers, way of life creators, comedians, health professionals, and fictional personalities will obtain money prizes and platform advantages from OpenArt, Fanvue and ElevenLabs.
On the centre of the AI Influencer motion is OpenArt. With over 9 million creators energetic at the platform each and every month, it has turn out to be a number one vacation spot for development and scaling digital personalities. “With such a large community of creators exploring the possibilities of AI on OpenArt, our platform is focused on democratizing virtual storytelling,” mentioned Chloe Fang, head of technique & partnerships at OpenArt. “Our goal is to empower everyone to build a personality, a world, and a community around it, without needing a studio budget or production team.”
Fang said the awards grew directly out of the momentum from OpenArt’s first AI Influencer Summit earlier this year. “The overpowering enthusiasm at our Summit in January obviously demonstrated the will for better acknowledgment of this neighborhood, so we made up our minds to release the AI Character of the Yr awards with Fanvue and ElevenLabs.”
AI Influencers like Aitana Lopez earn over $20,000 per thirty days via emblem partnerships and direct-to-fan subscriptions on monetisation platform, Fanvue.
“The commercial potential of AI Influencers is huge,” mentioned Will Monange, co-founder and CEO at Fanvue. “This industry is powered by imaginative individuals, creators who may prefer not to be public-facing themselves, leveraging AI to realise their visions and scale and monetise them on Fanvue.”
“We’re seeing AI Influencers across genres, from music to acting, sport and lifestyle, join the platform, engage with fans and monetise content.” Monange added.
Fanvue already hosts globally recognised AI influencers like Aitana Lopez alongside human celebrities including Cardi B and Alisha Lehmann, highlighting how virtual and human creators increasingly operate within the same ecosystem.
The program is also backed by ElevenLabs, the AI voice platform, ensuring entries are judged across every dimension of a digital personality.
Head of Chroma Awards at ElevenLabs, Matty Shimura, commented:”This trade is transferring at a speedy tempo. 18 months in the past the collection of AI Influencers globally used to be within the hundreds, however now we’re taking a look at hundreds of thousands. The development during the last yr has been staggering, and we’re excited to lend a hand highlight and enhance the following wave of ability rising in any such impulsively evolving area.”
Entries open March 23 for one month. Existing AI Influencers can enter through creating content on the OpenArt platform, while creators can also build brand new virtual talent and enter the awards. Weekly winners will be announced throughout the competition, with grand winners revealed in May. To enter, creators must develop their AI influencer on the OpenArt platform and submit at www.AIpersonality.ai.
About OpenArtOpenArt is the leading all-in-one generative AI creative platform for visual storytellers, empowering creators to bring characters, stories, brands and worlds to life. With first access to the latest AI models, unified creative workflows, and tools designed around persistent characters and storytelling, OpenArt enables the creation of AI influencers, virtual brands, and original media formats. Founded to push the boundaries of AI creative expression, OpenArt is defining the standard for the next generation of visual storytelling.
About the AI Influencer SummitOrganized by OpenArt, the AI Influencer Summit is the annual meeting point for leaders in entertainment, advertising, technology, and the creator economy. Together, we explore how AI is reshaping storytelling, redefining brand engagement, and transforming how audiences experience media.
About FanvueFanvue is the fastest-growing subscription platform in the creator economy, with 17 million monthly active users and over 250,000 creators.
About the World AI Creator AwardsThe Fanvue World AI Creator Awards delivered Miss AI in 2024. Over 2,500 AI Influencers entered. Kenza Layli, an AI Influencer created to empower women in the Middle East earned the inaugural title. Kenza has returned as an Official Ambassador for AI Personality of the Year 2026.
