Tamer Hudayar is pioneering a new era in fashion and digital art, using generative AI to craft lifelike virtual influencers and models. His journey into the world of AI began with a chance encounter on social media, leading him to explore the creative possibilities of artificial intelligence. 
As the founder of Pakistan’s first AI-based fashion modeling agency, AIFLUENCER, Hudayar is redefining how brands can connect with audiences through digital characters. In this interview, Hudayar discusses the rise of AI influencers, the process of creating customized AI models, and the potential challenges and opportunities facing the AI industry in Pakistan. Read On:
SD: What is generative AI, and how did you first get started in this field?
Tamer: Generative AI, or Gen AI, is a type of artificial intelligence that creates new content like images, text, music, audio, or video by learning from existing data. One day, while I was randomly scrolling through Instagram, Lil Miquela, a 21-year-old AI Influencer from LA with over 2.5 million followers, popped up on my feed. This was the moment I was first introduced to AI influencers and was amazed to see her working with big brands like BMW and how digital characters like her and Aitana from Spain, could earn up to 10,000 euros. This moment sparked my fascination with AI’s creative possibilities.
SD: What are AI influencers, and how are they created using generative AI? 
Tamer: AI influencers are virtual personalities designed to appear strikingly realistic and lifelike. They engage with audiences on social media through content generated by advanced AI tools like MidJourney, Stable Diffusion, and FLUX, with techniques like LoRA (Low-Rank Adaptation) used to customize their features and fine-tune their behavior. Despite their realistic appeal, they are entirely managed and controlled by their creators.
SD: How do AI influencers differ from human influencers? 
Tamer: AI influencers are virtual characters genereated with AI, whereas human influencers are actual people. AI influencers are fully controlled and consistently presented by their creators, while human influencers manage their own content and can display a wide range of emotions and personal growth. AI influencers can be easily adapted for different campaigns, unlike human influencers with more limited flexibility.
SD: Why do you think brands are interested in using AI influencers?
Tamer: Brands are interested in AI influencers because they offer precise control over content and appearance, are adaptable for various campaigns, and can engage audiences globally. For example, Lil Miquela, a virtual robot model, has worked with top fashion brands like Prada, Dior, and Calvin Klein, as well as luxury brands like BMW, showcasing the effectiveness and appeal of AI influencers in high-profile collaborations. 
SD: What motivated you to create Pakistan’s first AI-based fashion modeling agency, AIFLUENCER?
Tamer: After working in traditional modeling and seeing how expensive and time-consuming it was and a barrier for many brands—I saw an opportunity and created AIFLUENCER, Pakistan’s first AI-based fashion modeling agency to provide a modern solution. which efficient, cost-effective, and customizable way to showcase their products. Additionally, we are also working on a pipeline project involving AI influencers.
SD: For someone new to generative AI, where would you recommend they start?
Tamer: I recommend starting with online courses to learn the basics, exploring user-friendly text-to-img tools like MidJourney or DALL-E, and experimenting with simple projects to gain hands-on experience.
SD: What basic skills or knowledge should someone have if they want to work with generative AI?
Tamer: The best part is that you don’t need advanced skills to dive into generative AI. With just a basic understanding of AI tools and prompt writing, you can unleash your creativity and explore artistic possibilities. This allows you to create visually stunning and imaginative results without needing a technical background.
SD: Can people without a technical background still get involved in generative AI, and how? 
Tamer: Yes, people without a technical background can still get involved in generative AI. You can use user-friendly tools like MidJourney and DALL-E for text-to-image creation, which don’t require coding skills. By learning basic prompt writing and exploring online tutorials, you can start creating impressive visuals and projects without needing a technical background.
SD: What are the biggest challenges facing the AI industry in Pakistan, and how can they be addressed?
Tamer: In my opinion, the AI industry in Pakistan faces challenges such as a lack of trained experts, outdated curricula, insufficient training institutes, and inadequate technology infrastructure, further impacted by recent internet issues. To address these problems, Pakistan could follow Singapore’s lead, which has introduced a 2024 budget initiative offering subsidies for AI training, especially for those over 40. This move acknowledges that as AI evolves, many jobs will be impacted, and it’s crucial for people to adapt to stay relevant. Since AI is the future, evolving and learning new skills is essential to avoid job losses as AI takes over. Investing in proper training institutes and starting AI education now can help ensure we remain competitive and avoid being left behind. 
