In his bestselling book The Tipping Point, Malcolm Gladwell describes how ideas, trends, and behaviors can reach a critical mass — what he calls the moment of critical velocity — after which they spread rapidly and transform everything.
That moment, according to Gladwell, is when change becomes unstoppable.
In 2007, the iPhone launched a new era – One where smartphones moved from novelty to necessity, rewiring culture, communication, and business.
For the past decade, AI has hovered on the edge of our lives — fascinating, occasionally useful, but still mostly experimental. Now, the pieces are finally falling into place for AI to go from “interesting” to compelling, transformational, and irresistible — across business, culture, creativity, and daily life.
Here are 6 reasons why 2025 could be remembered as the year AI crossed the threshold — from potential to power — and how real-world examples already show the shift underway.
1. The tech has finally caught up to the hype
AI has long promised the future. In 2025, it’s delivering.
GPT-4 and successors are not only generating content—they’re reasoning, remembering, and adapting to you. They now have a memory.
AI agents can now take actions on your behalf: booking, replying, managing, and organizing. AI is moving from creating to action. This year will the year of AI agents
On-device AI puts private, real-time intelligence in your pocket—without needing the cloud. So far AI has been all about the software. We are now moving to AI devices and hardware.
The Rabbit R1 is a handheld AI device launched in 2025 that acts like a personal assistant and can operate your apps. Say, “Book me a flight to Tokyo,” and it doesn’t just search—it completes the task. It’s one of the first consumer products that shows AI can act in the real world, not just answer.
Equipped with built-in cameras, the glasses can analyze the user’s surroundings. By saying “Hey Meta,”using its look and ask feature users can ask questions about what they’re viewing, and the integrated AI provides detailed information. For example, users can inquire about landmarks or objects in their environment, and the glasses will offer relevant insights.
In the business world, AI is moving from the sidelines to the center.
AI-native startups are outpacing traditional companies.
Enterprises are embedding copilots into every department.
Solopreneurs and SMBs are scaling faster, hiring later.
Real-world example:
Harvey.ai is a legal AI assistant now used by over 50 major law firms, including Allen & Overy. It can draft legal arguments, conduct research, and streamline workflows—cutting workloads by up to 80%. It’s redefining what legal professionals can get done in a day.
Supporting data:
AI adoption within the legal profession nearly tripled year over year, from 11% in 2023 to 30% in 2024, with larger firms leading the way. LawSites
3. AI has become a cultural staple
AI is no longer futuristic. It’s foundational.
Used for travel, tutoring, meal planning, and content creation
Creators multiply output using generative tools
Education systems implement AI tutors for personal learning
Real-world example:
Khanmigo by Khan Academy is an AI tutor powered by GPT-4, designed to help students learn math, science, and more through guided conversation. It doesn’t just give answers—it teaches through dialogue. Parents and teachers alike are calling it a game-changer in education.
Supporting data:
Approximately 97% of students in higher education institutions use AI-powered tools to enhance their learning, indicating a significant shift towards AI in education.
4. The ecosystem is ready
Behind every AI breakthrough is an ecosystem enabling it.
Open-source models like Mistral and Mixtral drive rapid innovation
Developer-friendly APIs enable companies to build tailored tools
Regulation, hardware, and deployment are all scaling
Real-world example:
Perplexity.ai is a powerful AI answer engine combining real-time web search with contextual reasoning. It’s being used in customer service, research, and enterprise knowledge bases. It represents the fusion of AI and search, with up-to-date, trusted answers.
Emotional acceptance may be the biggest shift of all.
We’re delegating real decisions—not just tasks—to AI
The conversation is shifting from “threat to jobs” to “enhancer of capability”
AI is now seen as a partner, not just a tool
Real-world example
Superhuman AI now helps professionals manage their inboxes faster and smarter. It writes responses, adjusts tone, and summarizes long threads. Users are reporting 2x–3x productivity gains, trusting it to handle 80–90% of their emails, freeing them to focus on higher-value tasks.
Supporting data
Superhuman users have sent more than 4 billion emails using AI-assisted features, demonstrating growing trust in AI for critical communication tasks.
6. AI avatars and content creators
Everywhere you look, AI is making the leap.
OpenAI’s Sora is generating text-to-video content in cinematic quality
Apple’s iOS 18 is expected to make AI central to every iPhone experience
Creators are scaling businesses with AI across content, voice, video, and code
Real-world example
Kuki AI (or similar AI-powered creators using tools like Descript, ElevenLabs, and Runway ML) are now building full-scale media businesses without a production team. One-person content brands are hitting millions of views monthly, powered entirely by AI-generated video, voice, and post-production.
Supporting data
Over 165 million content creators have joined social media since 2020, many utilizing AI tools to enhance their content production.
Last thoughts
As Gladwell wrote, “The tipping point is that magic moment when an idea, trend, or social behavior crosses a threshold, tips, and spreads like wildfire.”
That moment has arrived for AI.
It’s no longer just helping—it’s amplifying. No longer confined to labs and demos—it’s now in your pocket, your browser, your business, and your daily life.
2025 won’t just be a milestone year in tech. It will be remembered as the year humanity redesigned how we think, work, and create—with AI not just as a tool, but as a co-pilot in the human journey.
Everyone these days is looking for a quick win and a way to raise to fame fast, many fall for the trap of buying YouTube views..
Buying YouTube views is actually against the terms of service of YouTube, yet many still breach the terms everyday buying views.
Yes you can buy YouTube Views but its not so straight forward.. You need a choose a provider who only uses trusted and compliant methods of promotion.
Boosting your online presence is critical to stay relevant, one effective strategy is to buy genuine YouTube views, with over 100 million active daily users. YouTube is a great platform to increase your visibility.
Purchasing views can significantly enhance your visibility on the platform.
This approach helps attract more real users and active YouTube users to your YouTube channel.
By increasing your view count, you can improve your standing with the YouTube algorithm and potentially draw more organic viewers to your videos.
Let’s explore the benefits of buying YouTube views and provide tips on how to ensure you get quality views from reputable sources.
7 Best Sites to Buy Real YouTube Views
Here is the list of the 7 best sites to buy YouTube views from trusted providers
UseViral is a top-rated platform for buying YouTube views, known for its commitment to quality and customer satisfaction.
Their service is designed to help boost your visibility on YouTube by providing views from real accounts who engage with your content.
UseViral’s high-retention YouTube views ensure that your videos are watched for longer periods, which significantly improves your ranking in the algorithm.
Their 24/7 customer support is always available to help with any questions or issues you may encounter.
Additionally, UseViral offers a variety of customizable packages, making it easy to find the perfect fit for your YouTube growth needs.
Key Features:
High Retention Views: UseViral ensures that the views you purchase are from real accounts who watch your videos for a significant duration, which helps boost your video’s ranking in the algorithm.
Comprehensive Customer Support: Their dedicated customer support team is available 24/7 to assist with any issues or questions, ensuring a smooth and satisfactory experience.
Customizable Packages: UseViral offers a range of packages tailored to different needs and budgets, allowing you to choose the best option for your YouTube growth strategy.
Payment Methods:
UseViral offers various secure payment methods, including major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express) and PayPal, which provide an extra layer of security and convenience.
Customer Support:
UseViral provides comprehensive 24/7 customer support via email, live chat, and a support ticket system to ensure any concerns are addressed promptly.
SidesMedia stands out as a reliable platform for purchasing YouTube views, delivering high-quality YouTube services swiftly and securely.
Their fast delivery system ensures that your videos start gaining views almost immediately, helping you build momentum quickly.
SidesMedia uses secure payment methods like PayPal and Apple Pay to protect your financial information, giving you peace of mind throughout the transaction.
They also offer targeted views, allowing you to choose the demographic most relevant to your content, thereby enhancing your channel’s engagement and growth.
With SidesMedia, you can expect a significant boost in your visibility and overall channel performance.
Key Features:
Fast Delivery: SidesMedia promises quick delivery of purchased YouTube views, ensuring your video gains traction almost immediately after your purchase.
Secure Transactions: They use secure payment methods to protect your financial information, giving you peace of mind during the buying process.
Targeted Views: SidesMedia allows you to target specific demographics, ensuring that the views you purchase come from the audience most relevant to your content.
Reputation: Endorsed and reviewed by Startup.Info technology magazine. Given 5 stars!
Payment Methods:
SidesMedia accepts major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express) and PayPal, ensuring secure and flexible payment options for customers.
Customer Support:
SidesMedia offers 24/7 customer support via email, live chat, and a support ticket system, ensuring that customers can get the help they need quickly and efficiently.
Growthoid is renowned for its focus on organic growth and genuine YouTube account engagement.
Growthoid helps maintain your channel’s authenticity and credibility by ensuring that all purchased YouTube views come from real YouTube users.
They offer tailored growth plans based on your channel’s niche and target audience, maximizing the effectiveness of your investment.
Unlike many competitors, Growthoid avoids using bots, which means your view count increases through genuine user interactions, which is essential for long-term success.
Growthoid is ideal for those looking to enhance their YouTube presence with real and active engagement.
Key Features:
Real Users: Growthoid ensures that all purchased views come from real YouTube users, enhancing your channel’s authenticity and credibility.
Tailored Growth Plans: They offer personalized growth plans based on your channel’s niche and target audience, maximizing the effectiveness of your investment.
No Bots: Growthoid strictly avoids using bots, ensuring that your view count increases through genuine user interactions, which is vital for long-term channel growth.
Payment Methods:
Growthoid supports payments via major credit cards and PayPal, providing secure and convenient payment options for its customers.
Customer Support:
Growthoid provides reliable customer support through email and live chat, ensuring customers receive timely assistance with any queries or issues.
TokUpgrade, while primarily known for TikTok growth, offers exceptional YouTube services for boosting YouTube views as well.
They leverage their cross-platform expertise to promote your YouTube videos across multiple social media channels, driving more traffic and increasing your video’s visibility.
TokUpgrade employs manual growth strategies, ensuring the views you gain come from active and interested users, which adds real value to your channel.
They also provide performance analytics, giving you detailed insights into how the purchased views impact your video performance.
TokUpgrade is perfect for those looking to enhance their YouTube presence through strategic and manual promotion.
Key Features:
Cross–PlatformPromotion: TokUpgrade uses its cross-platform expertise to promote your YouTube videos across various social media platforms, driving more traffic to your channel.
Manual Growth Strategies: Their team uses manual strategies to ensure that the views you gain are from active and interested users.
Performance Analytics: TokUpgrade provides detailed analytics on the performance of your purchased views, helping you understand their impact on your channel.
Payment Methods:
TokUpgrade supports payments via major credit cards and PayPal, ensuring secure and convenient transactions.
Customer Support:
TokUpgrade offers customer support through email and live chat, ensuring that users receive prompt and effective assistance.
Twesocial, known for its excellence in social media marketing services, extends its expertise to YouTube, offering robust solutions for increasing views.
By integrating their social media marketing strategies, Twesocial provides a holistic approach to growing your YouTube presence.
They focus not just on increasing views but also boosting engagement metrics such as the ability to Buy YouTube likes and even Buy YouTube comments, enhancing overall interaction on your videos.
Twesocial offers flexible pricing tiers, making their YouTube services accessible to users with varying budgets.
This makes it an excellent choice for those looking to leverage cross-platform promotion to boost their YouTube channel.
Key Features:
Integrated Social Media Marketing: Twesocial leverages its expertise in social media marketing to provide holistic growth services, including YouTube views.
Engagement Boost: When you purchase YouTube views from Twesocial, you can also benefit from increased engagement on your videos, such as likes and comments.
Flexible Pricing: They offer various pricing tiers, making it easy for users with different budgets to find a suitable package for their needs.
Payment Methods:
Twesocial accepts major credit cards and PayPal, ensuring secure transactions and flexible payment options for its customers.
Customer Support:
Twesocial offers customer support via email and live chat, providing timely assistance and ensuring a positive user experience.
Ampya is a veteran in the social media marketing industry, offering a wide range of services, including YouTube views.
They provide a comprehensive solution for all your social media growth needs, making it easy to manage multiple platforms from one place.
Ampya guarantees that all views are real and safe, complying with YouTube’s guidelines to ensure the safety of your channel.
With a strong reputation backed by numerous positive customer reviews, Ampya is trusted for its reliability and effectiveness in delivering results.
Their extensive range of services and proven track record make them a go-to for YouTube growth.
Key Features:
Variety of Services: In addition to YouTube views, Ampya offers services for other platforms, allowing you to manage all your social media growth needs in one place.
Real and Safe Views: They guarantee real and safe views that comply with YouTube’s guidelines, ensuring your channel’s safety and growth.
Excellent Customer Reviews: Ampya has a strong reputation backed by numerous positive customer reviews, which highlight its reliability and effectiveness.
Payment Methods:
Ampya accepts major credit cards and PayPal, providing secure and flexible payment options for its customers.
Customer Support:
Ampya offers customer support via email and a support ticket system, ensuring users receive timely assistance with any queries or issues.
7. Thunderclap
Score 7.0/10
Thunderclap is dedicated to providing high-quality YouTube views, ensuring your videos receive genuine engagement from real accounts.
Their service focuses on delivering views that come from active users, which can significantly boost your video’s performance and credibility on the platform.
Thunderclap offers some of the most affordable packages in the market, making it accessible for users with different budget ranges.
They also provide a retention guarantee, ensuring that the views you purchase remain stable and do not drop off over time.
Thunderclap is ideal for anyone looking to enhance their YouTube presence with reliable and cost-effective solutions.
Key Features:
High-Quality Views: Thunderclap ensures that the views you purchase are of high quality, coming from real, active YouTube users who genuinely engage with your video content.
Affordable Packages: They offer some of the most competitive prices in the market, making it accessible for users with different budget ranges.
Retention Guarantee: Thunderclap provides a retention guarantee, meaning the views you buy will not drop off, ensuring sustained growth for your videos.
Payment Methods:
Thunderclap supports payments via major credit cards and PayPal, ensuring secure and convenient transactions.
Customer Support:
Thunderclap offers customer support through email and live chat, ensuring that users receive prompt and effective assistance with any concerns.
How to Choose the Best Service to Buy YouTube Views
Choosing the best service to buy YouTube views is a crucial decision that can significantly impact the growth and success of your YouTube channel.
With numerous options available, it’s essential to know what factors to consider to make an informed choice.
To help you make an informed decision, you should know that: UseViral, SidesMedia, Growthoid, Twesocial, and TokUpgrade have been recommended as the best sites to buy YouTube views.
Here’s a guide to help you select the best service for purchasing YouTube views:
Reputation and Reviews
It’s important to research the reputation of the service.
Look for reviews and testimonials from other users to gauge their experiences.
Services with consistently positive feedback are more likely to deliver quality results.
Websites like Trustpilot, Reddit, and industry-specific forums can be valuable resources for finding unbiased reviews.
Pay attention to comments about the reliability, customer service, and effectiveness of the views provided.
Quality of Views
Not all views are created equal so using a provider who offers quality views from real, active users are more beneficial for your channel than fake or bot-generated views.
High retention YouTube views, where users watch a significant portion of your video, can improve your ranking in the YouTube algorithm and lead to better organic growth.
Services that offer views from real accounts can help build credibility and trust with your audience, making it more likely that new viewers will engage with your content.
Targeting Options
The ability to target specific demographics can enhance the effectiveness of your purchased views.
Look for services that offer targeted views based on factors like location, age, gender, and interests.
This ensures that the views you purchase are from users who are genuinely interested in your content.
Targeted views can lead to higher engagement rates, such as likes, comments, and shares, which further boost your video’s visibility and reach.
Customer Support
Reliable customer support is essential, especially if you encounter any issues or have questions about the service.
Choose a provider that offers responsive and helpful customer support, ideally available 24/7.
This can make a significant difference in your overall experience.
Good customer support can assist with troubleshooting, provide guidance on selecting the right package, and offer reassurance if any problems arise.
Pricing and Packages
Compare the pricing and packages offered by different services.
Ensure that the cost aligns with your budget and the value provided.
Some services offer customizable packages, allowing you to choose the number of YouTube views and targeting options that best suit your needs.
It’s also worth considering any discounts or promotions that might be available for larger purchases.
Remember, the cheapest option isn’t always the best; focus on the quality and reliability of the service.
Additional Services
Some providers offer additional services, such as to buy YouTube subscribers, comments, and likes.
These can complement your view purchases and contribute to a more comprehensive growth strategy.
Evaluate if these extras are useful for your goals.
For example, a balanced increase in YouTube views, likes, and comments can make your video’s growth appear more organic and credible to new viewers.
Advantages of Buying YouTube Video Views
The decision to buy YouTube video views can be a strategic move to boost your channel’s growth and visibility.
Here are some of the key advantages:
Visibility and Credibility on Your YouTube Videos
One of the primary advantages when you buy YouTube views is the immediate increase in visibility.
Videos with higher view count tend to attract more organic viewers because they appear more popular and credible.
This initial boost can help your video stand out in search results and recommendations, drawing more attention from potential viewers.
Improved Ranking in Search Results
YouTube’s algorithm favors videos with higher engagement metrics, including views, likes, and comments.
By purchasing views, you can improve your video’s ranking in YouTube’s search results and suggested video lists.
This can lead to more organic traffic as your video becomes more discoverable to a wider audience.
Faster YouTube Channel Growth
Choosing to buy YouTube views can accelerate the growth of your YouTube channel.
With more YouTube views, your channel gains traction more quickly, attracting more, and even Buy YouTube subscribers and engagement.
This can be particularly beneficial for new or small YouTube channels that are trying to establish a presence on the platform.
Monetization Opportunities
For channels looking to monetize their content, having a high number of YouTube views can be crucial.
YouTube’s Partner Program requires channels to have at least 4,000 watch hours in the past 12 months and 1,000 YouTube subscribers.
Purchasing views can help you reach these milestones faster, enabling you to start earning revenue from ads, memberships, and other monetization options.
Sponsorships and Partnerships
Brands and businesses often look for influencers and content creators with a substantial following and high engagement rates for sponsorships and partnerships.
A higher view count can make your channel more attractive to potential sponsors, opening up opportunities for collaboration and additional revenue streams.
Conclusion
Deciding to buy YouTube views has been a game-changer for my channel.
By investing in high-quality views, I saw an immediate increase in visibility and credibility.
This boost helped my videos rank higher in search results, attracting more organic traffic and engagement.
If you’re serious about growing your YouTube presence, purchasing views from reputable sources can provide the initial push you need.
To ensure long-term success, remember to choose a service that offers real views, excellent customer support, and compliance with YouTube’s terms.
The decision to buy YouTube views can be the catalyst that elevates your channel to new heights.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it legal to buy views on YouTube?
Yes, it is legal to buy views on YouTube as long as the views come from real users and comply with YouTube’s terms of service.
It’s important to choose reputable providers who use legitimate methods to increase your view count.
Purchasing fake views that come from bots or fake accounts can violate YouTube’s guidelines and may result in penalties such as video removal or YouTube account suspension.
Can you buy real YouTube views?
Yes, you can buy real YouTube views from reputable services.
These views come from genuine users who watch and engage with your videos.
It’s crucial to choose providers who guarantee that their views are from real, active users to ensure compliance with YouTube’s guidelines and to avoid potential penalties.
Real views contribute positively to your channel’s growth and credibility.
How much does it cost to buy 1,000 YouTube views?
The cost to buy 1,000 YouTube views can vary depending on the provider and the quality of the views.
On average, prices can range from $10 to $50.
Higher-quality YouTube views from real YouTube account might be more expensive, but they are also more beneficial for your channel’s growth and engagement.
It’s important to compare different services and choose one that offers a good balance of price and quality.
How much money is 100k views on YouTube?
The amount of money you can earn from 100,000 views on YouTube varies based on several factors, including your channel’s niche, viewer demographics, and the types of ads displayed.
On average, YouTube creators earn between $0.25 and $4 per 1,000 views.
Therefore, for 100,000 YouTube views, you might earn anywhere from $25 to $400.
Revenue can be higher if your audience is located in countries with higher ad rates or if you have a high engagement rate.
How can buying YouTube views help increase my YouTube subscribers?
Buying YouTube views goes hand in hand with buying YouTube subscribers, it can indirectly help increase your YouTube subscribers by boosting your video’s visibility and credibility.
When your videos have a high view count, they appear more popular and attract more organic viewers.
This increased visibility can lead to higher engagement, as viewers are more likely to watch, like, comment, and share your content.
As your video gains traction, it ranks higher in YouTube’s search results and suggested videos, further expanding your reach.
With more eyes on your content, the likelihood of gaining new YouTube subscribers increases, helping your channel grow more quickly.
Where can I buy real YouTube views?
If you’re looking to buy real YouTube views, two highly recommended platforms are UseViral and SidesMedia.
Both YouTube growth services offer views from genuine users and cater to a wide range of countries with various pricing options.
UseViral is renowned for its high-quality and premium YouTube views.
They offer views from real accounts across multiple regions, including Brazil, the USA, Turkey, Europe, Arab countries, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Korea, Africa, Italy, Greece, Canada, Australia, the UK, Norway, Japan, the Philippines, Egypt, Vietnam, Germany, Spain, India, and France.
The pricing for high-quality views starts at $4.50 for 250 views and goes up to $2,859.50 for 1,000,000 views.
Premium views start at $6.08 for 250 views, with the highest package costing $3,860.33 for 1,000,000 views.
UseViral ensures that the views you purchase are from real accounts who engage with your content, which helps boost your video’s ranking in the algorithm.
SidesMedia is another excellent platform for purchasing YouTube views.
They provide YouTube views from real, active users and cover a variety of regions, including Brazil, the Buy Instagram Followers USA, Turkey, Europe, Arab countries, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Korea, Africa, Italy, Greece, Canada, Australia, the UK, Norway, Japan, the Philippines, Egypt, Vietnam, Germany, Spain, India, and France, NZ.
Their pricing for high-quality views also starts at $4.50 for 250 views and goes up to $2,859.50 for 1,000,000 views, while premium views range from $6.08 for 250 views to $3,860.33 for 1,000,000 views.
SidesMedia stands out for its fast delivery system, ensuring your videos start gaining views almost immediately.
They use secure payment methods to protect your financial information and offer targeted views to enhance your channel’s engagement and growth.
About The Author:Antonio Lorenzo is a tech entrepreneur who is passionate about marketing.
He has helped hundreds of companies succeed on social networks, and also supported channels surpass over 1 million YouTube subscribers.
Google’s AI-generated reviews are changing how people find and consume information. This shift raises a pressing question: Does this new feature pose an existential threat to publishers who rely on search traffic? The reality is that some of them have lost 40-95% of their traffic.
What are Google AI-generated reviews?
Google’s AI Review Summaries feature provides concise AI-generated summaries of user reviews for products, services, and businesses directly within search results.
These summaries aim to enhance user experience by offering quick insights without the need to navigate multiple pages.
That is a great goal to improve a user-friendly web. But there are costs. Digital media publishers are the canon fodder.
Why it matters
The open web and social media platforms had an unwritten contact at the start of the social media revolution to give everyone who contributed to their platforms a free voice to reach the world.
The first few years delivered on that promise. Bloggers, content creators, influencers and media publishers were able to reach the 5 billion plus online users and bypass the mass media gatekeepers.
Then the social media platforms and Google became the new gatekeepers. New algorithms were introduced to maximize ad revenue and the result minimized the reach of the contributors who created content for free. Their attention and traffic were sacrificed to the mega platforms. Bloggers, media companies and content providers were the sacrificial lambs.
The new digital gatekeeper: AI
Now there is a new tech that takes the stealing of free content to new levels. Artificial intelligence and chatbots such as ChatGPT and Google’s Genesis.
What we didn’t know back then when we started blogs (that’s me in 2009), as media and news sites, was that we had struck a Faustian bargain (A pact whereby a person trades something of supreme importance, such as content, for some worldly or material benefit). And in a world of the web that means attention, traffic and money,
So what is the impact of Google’s AI review summaries?
Google’s AI overviews summarize reviews and information, potentially reducing clicks to original sources.
Publishers, especially those relying on affiliate marketing and ad revenue, could see a decline in traffic.
The balance of power in digital content is shifting further in favor of AI-driven aggregation.
Driving the news
PR spin is a great way to paint an existential crisis as an opportunity. Is faster better? Google seems to think so but at what cost?
Google recently announced AI-powered review summaries that provide quick insights without requiring users to visit publisher websites.
Early tests suggest AI-generated overviews are becoming more prominent in search results.
The feature aligns with Google’s push to improve user experience but raises concerns for content creators and businesses.
By the numbers
The numbers tell a story that reveals publisher sites dependence on search with Google almost holding a monopoly. The reality is that Google is not a publisher’s friend. Any public company (that includes Meta and Google) has a commitment to maximize profit for its shareholders.
The algorithm upgrades started with changes that put advertisements at the top of search results, then we had the addition of snippets that took more traffic away and now we are at AI Review summaries.
We are now at the sharp end of “Enshittification.” What does that mean?
“First, platforms (Facebook and Google are an example) are good to their users (free attention); then they abuse their users to make things better for their business customers (Cheap advertising); finally, they abuse those business customers (increase the ad prices to high levels) to claw back all the value for themselves (Make astronomical profits),”
Over 90% of web traffic starts with a search engine, with Google controlling more than 85% of the market.
Studies show AI-generated answers can reduce click-through rates by up to 30%.
Affiliate review sites and media publishers rely on organic search traffic for 50% or more of their revenue.
Here is what the new algorithm changes including AI reviews looks like for these 5 publishers. Visibility is down from 40% for Forbes and 95% for the publisher: “Time Stamped.”
There are many stakeholders in the global web game and a pact that is a win-win will keep it healthy and flourishing. But it is starting to fray.
Publishers & SEO experts: Fear loss of visibility and revenue, arguing Google is keeping traffic for itself.
Google: Claims AI summaries enhance user experience and surface high-quality content.
Users: Mixed reactions—some appreciate faster answers, while others worry about bias and misinformation.
What’s next
Google’s algorithm changes in the past have provided traffic whiplash as they experiment with making their product more user friendly (they call it better user experience without any thought to their stakeholders that are providing traffic for free).
Or should we say that it is more about making their search more profitable or money grabbing.
So what is next for publishers and Google?
Publishers may need to adapt by focusing on exclusive content, brand authority, and direct audience engagement.
Legal and regulatory scrutiny over Google’s AI practices could intensify.
AI-generated content may redefine SEO strategies, forcing businesses to rethink content monetization models.
How can publishers adapt and survive?
As Google’s AI Reviews threaten traditional search-driven traffic, publishers need to rethink their content distribution strategies. The open social web movement and protocols like ActivityPub (more on that later) and the Fediverse offer an opportunity to regain control over their audiences. Here’s how:
1. Embrace the open social web for direct audience engagement
The open social web refers to decentralized, federated networks where users and publishers interact without a central platform (like Google or Facebook) dictating content distribution. By shifting focus from search traffic to direct engagement, publishers can:
Build owned communities instead of relying on algorithm-driven discovery.
Use email newsletters, paid subscriptions, and membership models for monetization.
Engage with audiences on federated platforms like Mastodon, Threads (Meta’s future ActivityPub integration), and other decentralized networks.
ActivityPub is a decentralized protocol that allows different platforms to communicate and share content in an open, federated manner. Publishers can:
Distribute content beyond Google & social media silos – Articles, blog posts, and reviews can be automatically syndicated across federated platforms.
Increase engagement & direct traffic – Followers on Mastodon, Threads, or PeerTube (decentralized YouTube alternative) can receive and interact with content without needing an algorithmic push.
Bypass centralized content moderation risks – Instead of being at the mercy of Google’s AI, publishers can cultivate loyal audiences through independent, open networks.
Example: The New Yorker or The Verge could publish articles via their own ActivityPub-powered feed, allowing Mastodon users to follow updates natively without needing Google Search or Twitter/X.
3. Own distribution with AI-Optimized content strategies
Since AI-generated summaries will continue to take up search real estate, publishers should:
Create content AI can’t easily summarize (e.g., exclusive interviews, deep analysis, expert commentary).
Use structured data (schema markup) to optimize for AI consumption while ensuring citations drive traffic back to their sites.
Develop interactive experiences (such as quizzes, calculators, and AI tools) that users must visit the site to use.
As traffic from Google declines, publishers must diversify revenue: Here are three ideas.
Subscription & Memberships – Direct monetization via newsletters, Patreon, or Substack.
Tokenized Access & NFTs – Web3-enabled access to premium content.
Decentralized Micropayments – Using protocols like Lightning Network (Bitcoin) or Web Monetization API to receive payments for content views.
5. Future-proof with AI & first-party data
Since AI is here to stay, publishers should:
Deploy AI Assistants – Custom AI chatbots that summarize articles on their own websites, keeping users engaged.
Leverage First-Party Data – Encourage users to create accounts, allowing personalized content delivery without reliance on Google’s search algorithm.
SEO for AI Search – Optimize for Google’s AI answers by becoming a trusted source Google cites (instead of being ignored).
The shift is happening. Those who adapt will thrive, while those who remain dependent on Google risk fading into obscurity.
But the reality is that it is not easy.
Final thoughts
Google’s AI Reviews feature represents a fundamental shift in the search ecosystem. Publishers who fail to adapt risk obsolescence, while those who innovate could find new ways to thrive in an AI-driven content landscape. And we are all scrambling to find new ways to play the digital publishing game and monetize.
Google’s AI Reviews may seem like an existential threat, but it also highlights the need for publishers to take back control. By adopting the open social web, leveraging ActivityPub, and diversifying revenue streams, publishers can future-proof their businesses in an AI-driven world. But it is not without complexity and cost. Easy to say but hard to do.
We can scream at the moon but the reality is that no one is listening. Resilience is needed but adaptability is demanded.
The AI Avatar market is a quiet revolution that most people haven’t noticed but it will have a market size of $9.72 billion in 2025 and grow to $117.71 billion by 2034. This is a predicted compound annual growth rate of 32%.
What is an AI avatar?
The word avatar originates from the Sanskrit word avatāra, meaning “descent,” traditionally referring to the descent of a deity to earth in physical form. In modern use, avatar has evolved to mean a digital representation or embodiment of a person in a virtual environment. This could be a profile picture, a 3D character in a video game, or a digital persona used in online interactions.
In 2025, an AI Avatar is an AI-powered digital persona. Either a copy of you or a separate and artificial avatar.
Why it matters
AI avatars will change the world and even challenge our thinking about what it means to be human.
AI Avatars will allow us to create digital twins of ourselves and also fill in for humans in completing a wide range of tasks and will impact how we work, how we live, how we shop and how we entertain ourselves.
It will threaten some people’s jobs and it will also offer huge opportunities. As a business, you will need to ensure that you are taking advantage of the opportunities to do things faster with less. That’s called productivity. Humans only have 24 hours in a day and we get sick and take holidays. AI Avatars don’t have those human foibles.
7 types of AI avatar use cases in 2025
AI Avatars fall into two main categories: those that deliver information and content—useful for social media influencers, education, and training—and interactive avatars that engage in real-time conversations, answering customer service inquiries, assisting online shoppers, or even acting as virtual therapists or doctors.
1. Customer service and virtual assistants
AI avatars act as human-like agents for companies, replacing text-only chatbots with face-to-face digital agents. Example:Chipotle’s AI Recruitment Assistant, “Ava Cado”
Chipotle Mexican Grill introduced an AI assistant named “Ava Cado” to streamline its hiring process. This virtual assistant has improved application completion rates and reduced processing times, enhancing the efficiency of Chipotle’s recruitment efforts. (Source: MarketWatch)
AI avatars are used to create social media content, host live streams, and serve as brand ambassadors in the form of virtual influencers. Example:Synthesia’s AI Video Platform
Synthesia enables users to create videos featuring AI-generated avatars, allowing brands to produce personalized content at scale. Companies like Amazon and Tiffany & Co. have utilized Synthesia’s platform for marketing and internal communications. (Source: Wikipedia)
AI avatars function as virtual tutors, coaches, and trainers, providing interactive and personalized learning experiences. Example:St. Paul’s Lutheran Church’s AI-Generated Service
St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Helsinki conducted a service almost entirely created by AI, including AI-generated sermons, songs, visuals, and avatars. This experiment showcased the potential of AI avatars in educational and religious settings. (Source: Associated Press)
AI avatars can represent remote workers in virtual meetings, adding emotional expression and body language to remote communication. Example:Honor’s AI agent for mobile devices
Honor introduced an AI agent capable of understanding and interacting with graphical user interfaces on mobile screens, performing tasks like booking restaurants without external APIs. This advancement enhances remote work capabilities by allowing more autonomous device interactions.
AI avatars in games and virtual worlds are becoming increasingly autonomous, learning to interact with players and the environment in realistic ways. Example: NVIDIA has advanced its AI characters in gaming
NVIDIA has advanced its AI “ACE” characters, transforming them from simple in-game conversational agents to fully autonomous game characters.
At CES 2025, NVIDIA introduced the “PUBG Ally,” the first Co-Playable Character (CPC), capable of providing real-time strategic recommendations, sharing loot, driving vehicles, and engaging in combat alongside human players in “PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds” (PUBG).
These AI characters, powered by generative AI and small language models (SLMs), can act and make decisions like human players, enhancing the gaming experience by supporting player goals and adapting to player tactics
AI avatars serve as virtual health coaches or therapy companions, offering support and information in a more empathetic, human-like manner. Example:Guildhawk’s Digital Human Avatars
Guildhawk developed AI-powered digital human avatars capable of multilingual interactions, assisting in healthcare settings by providing information and support to patients in various languages.
Brands use AI avatars to create personalized sales experiences, guiding users through products in a more engaging and dynamic way. Example:Pizza My Heart’s AI Chatbot “Jimmy the Surfer”
Pizza My Heart, a California-based pizza chain, introduced an AI chatbot named “Jimmy the Surfer” to streamline their ordering process and enhance customer engagement. Developed by Palona AI, Jimmy allows customers to place orders via text messages, providing AI-generated responses and personalized suggestions. This innovation automates the ordering process, reduces the workload on store employees, and offers a unique, interactive experience for customers.
AI avatars offer a wide range of benefits across industries, from business and marketing to education and personal use. Here’s how they are transforming the way we work, communicate, and engage:
1. Enhanced communication & engagement
I don’t know about you but if I get on Zoom and someone doesn’t turn their camera on I trust them a bit less. There is something about a face-to-face conversation that is much more engaging.
More Human-Like Interaction: AI avatars provide face-to-face digital interactions that feel more engaging than text-based chatbots.
Emotional Intelligence: They can recognize emotions and respond in a natural, empathetic way, improving customer experience and user engagement.
2. 24/7 availability & scalability
Humans get sick and they don’t work 24 hours a day. You digital twin can. Not only that they can communicate with thousands of people at a time.
No Downtime: AI avatars can operate 24/7, providing instant customer support, sales assistance, or personal coaching.
Scalable Presence: A single avatar can handle thousands of conversations simultaneously, unlike human representatives.
3. Cost savings & efficiency
Business productivity is always about doing more with less. An AI Avatar can do that without complaining and will not yell back at you if you ask it to work back late every night.
Lower Operational Costs: Businesses reduce expenses on customer service, training, and marketing by using AI avatars instead of human labor.
Faster Task Automation: AI avatars can handle repetitive tasks (e.g., answering FAQs, scheduling meetings), freeing up human workers for more complex jobs.
4. Personalized user experience
AI avatars can continue to learn as they work. That is a human baked in feature. But the avatar will also have an almost perfect memory. We don’t. So the personalization will not be forgotten but will continue to be enhanced.
Adaptive Learning: AI avatars learn from interactions and personalize responses, offering more relevant recommendations and assistance.
Customizable Personas: Users can tailor avatars to match their brand, personality, or audience preferences.
5. Improved accessibility & inclusivity
I think I am quite good at English. So if you spoke to me in French or Italian I would have a strange expression on my face. It will be blank, quizzical and confused because I have a language of one. I have always been a bit crap at other languages. In fact, my German teacher at high school gave me a U minus. “U” for unsatisfactory and “minus” for attitude. I will be very happy for my AI avatar to respond in any language.
Language Translation: AI avatars can instantly translate languages, enabling seamless global communication.
Assistive Technology: AI avatars help individuals with disabilities, such as speech impairments or learning difficulties, by providing text-to-speech, sign language, or voice assistance.
6. New monetization & branding opportunities
Virtual influencers are like having teams of virtual people powered by AI working on behalf of Brands and they wont get drunk and get into trouble and provide bad PR.
Also real social media influencers will be able to scale themselves through the ability of the digital twin to have many conversations at once in many different languages.
The new monetization models for social media influencers will be both the new virtual influencers and the ability to amplify and accelerate revenue for your own personal brand.
Virtual Influencers & Brand Ambassadors: Businesses can create AI avatars as digital brand representatives or influencers to generate revenue through social media, ads, and partnerships.
Personalized Content Creation: AI avatars can generate content (videos, blog posts, social media updates) tailored to different audiences.
7. Digital Legacy & AI Companionship
I have an idea about living forever and continuing to leave a legacy after I die. An AI digital twin could do that. As well as that you could continue to have conversations. A bit weird but possible.
Not sure that my grandchildren would want to talk to the 150 year old version of “pop” on their device. But speaking from the grave and offering wisdom or even “dad” jokes could be fun.
AI-Powered Digital Twins: AI avatars can store memories, knowledge, and personal data, creating digital representations that continue to evolve over time.
AI Companions: They can act as personal assistants, mentors, or even emotional support avatars, offering meaningful interactions for individuals who feel isolated.
What are the negatives for using AI Avatars?
When social media emerged we all got excited and all we saw was a positive future.
While AI avatars offer many benefits, they also come with significant risks and challenges. Here are the key negatives and concerns associated with their rise:
Here are a few to consider.
1. Deepfake & identity theft risks
Fake Identities: AI avatars can be used to create realistic digital impersonations of people, leading to fraud, misinformation, and reputation damage.
Voice & Face Cloning Abuse: AI-generated voices and faces can be misused in scams, fake endorsements, and deepfake videos.
Note: I certainly think that Deepfakes should be illegal and banned by governments and society.
2. Ethical & privacy concerns
This is murky waters and is many shades of gray. A big one here is the discussion we need to have about the ownership of your avatar.
Data Privacy Issues: AI avatars require large amounts of personal data to function effectively, raising concerns about how this data is collected, stored, and used.
Unclear Ownership: Who owns an AI avatar’s personality and likeness—the user, the company, or the AI provider?
Emotional Manipulation: AI avatars could be designed to exploit emotions to sell products, push political agendas, or alter behaviors.
3. Job displacement & economic disruption
This is yet to be seen as a total negative. But there will be pain. The Luddite’s protested but the end result was an increase in the textile market but change can take time and there will be collateral damage. The governments and society will need to help in the transition.
Loss of Human Jobs: AI avatars will replace many customer service, sales, and marketing roles, impacting employment in multiple industries.
Rise of Cheap Virtual Influencers: AI avatars can generate content at scale, potentially outcompeting human content creators and social media influencers.
4. Social isolation & emotional dependency
This will cut both ways and there will be some cases where AI avatars and AI companions fill a need. Social media allows us to connect with more people but it has also reduced human intimacy and increased loneliness.
AI Replacing Human Interaction: AI avatars can reduce real-world social interactions, leading to increased loneliness and detachment from reality.
Emotional Attachment to AI: People may develop unhealthy relationships with AI avatars, preferring digital companionship over real human connections.
5. “Uncanny Valley” & trust issues
The term “Uncanny Valley” was first introduced in 1970 by Japanese roboticist Masahiro Mori, who observed that as a robot’s appearance becomes more human-like, people’s emotional response improves until a certain threshold, where the robot appears too close to human but slightly “off”, triggering unease.
Creepy or Fake Feelings: AI avatars that are too realistic but not quite human can make people uncomfortable. This is known as the “uncanny valley” effect.
Trust Erosion: If people can’t tell whether they’re interacting with a human or an AI avatar, it can erode trust in online communication.
6. AI bias & misinformation
As most AI chatbots are designed and developed in the USA the AI bias toward that culture will be hard to program out.
There are discussions about creating “Sovereign AI” that will preserve countries’ cultures and diversity that will help make sure that AI is not globally homogenized.
Inherent Bias in AI Avatars: AI avatars learn from data, which can contain biases in race, gender, and social dynamics, leading to unfair or harmful interactions.
Spread of Misinformation: AI avatars could be used to generate fake news, propaganda, or misleading content at scale.
7. Cost & complexity for businesses
High Setup Costs: Creating a high-quality AI avatar requires advanced AI models, 3D animation, and expensive computing resources.
Constant Maintenance Needed: AI avatars need regular updates, monitoring, and ethical oversight to ensure they behave appropriately.
8. Legal & regulatory uncertainty
The high velocity of AI’s technology into our day to day use is racing ahead of the law and regulations. One parallel with this is that it took us 20 years to start to put in place laws to help humanity cope and manage social media. Bullying online and mental health issues (especially among teenagers) are now becoming quite apparent.
No Clear AI Avatar Laws: Governments are still struggling to regulate AI avatars, creating grey areas in accountability, ownership, and liability.
Copyright & IP Disputes: AI-generated avatars may violate copyrights or likeness rights, leading to legal conflicts over ownership.
Predicted future trends for AI avatars
Making predictions about the future is always fraught. But the following will emerge. Some will gain more traction than others.
Hyper-realism and deep personalization AI avatars will become indistinguishable from real humans, with high-fidelity graphics, natural speech synthesis, and emotional intelligence.
Biometric and behavioral synchronization Avatars will mirror real-time facial expressions, gestures, and even physiological responses of their human users, enabling seamless embodiment in digital environments.
Autonomous personal agents AI avatars will act independently, making decisions, negotiating on behalf of their users, and even managing personal data, calendars, and interactions across digital platforms.
Persistent avatars across platforms Your AI avatar will persist across multiple environments — social media, work apps, games, and even smart home interfaces — creating a unified digital identity.
Emotional intelligence and empathy AI avatars will become emotionally aware, detecting mood through voice and expression and adjusting their responses and behavior accordingly.
Digital afterlife and legacy avatars Avatars could become immortal digital versions of people, living on after death as interactive representations of their thoughts, knowledge, and personality.
The timeline for the next 10 years
Final thoughts
The high speed adoption of AI is both a blessing and a curse. We are barely 2 years into the release of the app ChatGPT that has democratized AI and made it available to the global masses. The genie is out of the bottle.
In the future there will be two versions of you as the technology of AI evolves. There will be a blending of the two worlds. It has been given a name. Phygital. The physical you and your tireless digital you – Your “AI twin.’’
This hybrid human will have super intelligence. But despite its attraction we need to make sure we don’t leave our humanity behind. It will challenge us in exploring “what does it mean to be human?”.
And I leave you with this. “How will humanity react when the far more quintessentially human domains of art, humor, and literature come under assault? Rather than resist, we might see this next era as one of collaboration, between two species of intelligence, our own and the synthetic.
The relinquishment of control over certain creative endeavors may even relieve us of the need to define our worth and sense of self in this world solely through production and output.”
Fake Identities: AI avatars can be used to create realistic digital impersonations of people, leading to fraud, misinformation, and reputation damage.
