AI-generated model “Emily Hart” created by a 22-year-old Indian woman
A 22-year-old aspiring orthopedic surgeon from India said he received some financial help from his parents, but most of it went toward exam fees and medical licensing costs. With plans to eventually move to the United States after graduation, he began looking for ways to earn extra money online.The man used the alias Sam to protect his identity and future immigration prospects. He has tried several online income streams, including creating short YouTube videos and selling study materials to other medical students. None of them made much money.He then turned to creating an AI influencer on Instagram using Gemini and Google’s photo tools, he said in an interview with Wired.
Initially, he posted generic photos of a “hot girl”, but said the content failed to attract interest. According to Sam, he asked Gemini for advice and was told that competing in a generally influencer-dominated industry was difficult, and that niche audiences performed better.
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He said the system proposes targeting the “MAGA/conservative sector,” calling it a “cheat code,” and claimed he also said such audiences are more active on social media and spend more money.
Google denied this, saying the form was designed to provide neutral responses.Next, Sam creates an AI model named Emily Hart, a supposed American nurse with a typically conservative lifestyle and interests such as religion, firearms, and country living. The character’s posts centered around pro-Christian, pro-gun, anti-woke, and anti-immigration messages, which he said helped the account grow quickly.
She was inspired by American actresses Jennifer Lawrence and Sidney Sweeney.He posted daily content designed to drive engagement, including slogans and political statements that American conservative culture might find appealing. The strategy turned the account into a viral success within weeks.Sam claimed that the Instagram account quickly gained thousands of followers and millions of views on some videos. He later monetized traffic through subscription platforms and merchandise sales, earning a few thousand dollars a month. Instagram initially failed to label the content as AI-generated, allowing it to expand further before eventually removing the account for “fraudulent” activity.