Who are Dida Zvonko, Emily Pellegrini, and Ante Ilić?

Through three distinct examples gaining growing attention on social media — Dida Zvonko from Velebit, Emily Pellegrini, and Ante Ilić — we explore what AI influencers bring to the world of communication, how they balance the real and the imagined, and where the line lies between creative and (ir)responsible communication.

Dida Zvonko from Velebit
One of the most famous AI influencers in Croatia is Dida Zvonko from Velebit, a virtual character inspired by the tradition and humor of the Velebit mountain region. Through local dialect, jokes, and anecdotes, he connects with his audience, evoking a sense of togetherness and nostalgia. Dida shares natural remedies and offers his followers an e-book with selected tips and stories, and today, he has as many as 408,000 followers on Instagram.
His success shows how strong an emotional connection audiences can form with a virtual persona, especially when the content is infused with local identity and humor. But that’s also where the potential danger lies. When an AI profile shares advice on nutrition or health based on folklore rather than expert verification, it creates a risk of misinformation. Audiences sometimes fail to distinguish between real experts and digital creations, raising questions about responsibility and ethics in AI communication.

Emily Pellegrini
Emily Pellegrini, a global virtual influencer focused on fashion and lifestyle, was created when her creator asked ChatGPT to describe “the dream woman of an average man.” The result, a girl with brown hair and long legs, became the foundation for Emily’s creation. “I wanted her to be appealing, attractive, and as realistic as possible,” explained her creator.
Her stylized, almost cinematic posts demonstrate how AI can create consistent, visually striking content that engages audiences and builds a recognizable brand. However, Emily also raises important questions about unrealistic beauty standards and authenticity. When virtual models become the ideal people compare themselves to, it distorts the perception of reality. AI influencers like Emily can be inspiring, but they can also reinforce social pressures and expectations, highlighting the need for careful and responsible use of such tools.

@emily.pellegrini

Walk like the world is your runway????

♬ Fireworks – Drake

Ante Ilić
This year, the digital world also “brought to life” Ante Ilić, a 24-year-old virtual influencer known for his honest and optimistic approach. His mission is to show young people that technology can be an ally in personal growth. He focuses on topics close to Gen Z and millennials: fitness, mental health, and travel.
Ante is an example of how AI profiles can create motivational, educational content that builds trust and encourages positive habits. But, as with other AI influencers, the line between inspiration and misinformation is very thin. When advice comes from a source without real experience or expertise, there’s a risk the audience may adopt inaccurate information. That’s why transparency is key, the audience must know that there’s no real person behind the profile, but artificial intelligence.

@ante.ilic.ai

3 tiha sabotera mentalnog zdravlja (i kako ih izbaciti). ????❌ #MentalnaSnaga #DigitalniDetox #radnasebi #anteilic “ai

♬ original sound – Ante Ilić

Responsible communication remains essential

All three AI profiles — Dida Zvonko from Velebit, Ante Ilić, and Emily Pellegrini — demonstrate the various possibilities and challenges that virtual influencers bring to the digital landscape. Dida builds local and emotional connection through humor and tradition, Ante provides educational and motivational content for young people, while Emily creates a visually aspirational lifestyle and a global digital identity. These themes resonate with different segments of social media users, not all of whom are mature or informed enough to understand the context and personas behind such virtual influencers.

AI profiles introduce a new dimension to influencer marketing, one where the boundary between real and virtual is increasingly blurred, making responsible communication more important than ever. Responsible use of AI influencers means clearly communicating that they are virtual characters, avoiding the sharing of unverified or sensitive information (especially related to health, nutrition, or finance), and ensuring that the content remains within the realms of entertainment, inspiration, and education. Only such an approach allows AI communication to be creative, while also remaining transparent and ethical.