A medical student based in India reportedly built and operates a popular AI-generated Instagram influencer who has amassed millions of followers by posting patriotic, political and lifestyle content targeting conservative audiences in the United States, according to a WIRED report cited by the New York Post.
The account featured a blonde virtual influencer named “Emily Hart,” who was depicted in photos wearing a bikini, a MAGA hat, carrying firearms, ice fishing, drinking beer, and sharing strongly worded political statements. According to her profile, she was a registered nurse who resembled Hollywood actress Jennifer Lawrence, with the AI-generated character introduced as part of a MAGA-themed content stream.The profile quickly gained traction, reportedly reaching 10,000 followers within a month, with many of the reels receiving millions of views.The creator, who goes by the name “Sam,” a 22-year-old orthopedic surgeon training in India, told WIRED he developed the AI character while studying medicine and sought to monetize it amid financial pressures and plans to move to the United States after graduation.He reportedly used Google’s Gemini AI for mentoring and decided to create a virtual influencer targeting the conservative American audience. According to him, the tool indicates that “the conservative public (especially older men in the United States) often have higher incomes and are more loyal,” as quoted by WIRED.
Facebook/Emily Hart
The account posted politically charged content, including phrases such as: “Christ is king, abortion is murder, and all illegal immigrants should be deported,” along with other provocative comments. Sam also tried creating a liberal counterpart but said he never gained similar traction.He monetized the account through merchandise sales and subscription-based platforms like Fanvue, which allows for AI-generated content.
Paid subscribers were reportedly given access to exclusive material, including AI-generated images and adult content.“I was spending 30 to 50 minutes of my day, and I was making good money for a medical student,” he said, adding that the operation generated thousands of dollars a month.“I don’t feel like I was deceiving people,” he also told WIRED.According to the report, the Instagram account was shut down in February due to “fraudulent” activity.
A related Facebook account was also removed after the investigation was published.Experts cited in the report said that AI-generated personas on social media are becoming increasingly realistic, raising concerns about misinformation, authenticity and their impact on social media ecosystems and political engagement.
