Doublespeed Startup Sells “Mass Influence” Through AI-Generated Influencers
A U.S. startup called Doublespeed is offering what it calls “mass influence as a service” — a controversial business model that uses artificial intelligence to run thousands of synthetic influencer accounts across social networks.
AI-driven personas built for virality
According to an investigation by 404 Media, the startup, backed by venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), has developed software capable of managing vast networks of AI-controlled profiles. These virtual personas generate posts, images, and videos automatically, optimized to exploit social media algorithms for maximum engagement.
The system can simulate human posting behavior, interact with real users, and adapt tone, style, and interests based on audience feedback. In essence, it’s an industrial-scale content factory powered by synthetic personalities.
A “success story” — or social engineering at scale?
Doublespeed’s creators cite a case study where a client used just 15 AI-created accounts to generate 4.7 million views in one month. Each account maintained distinct identities — from lifestyle vloggers to political commentators — designed to blend seamlessly into organic online communities.
Such results highlight both the effectiveness and the danger of these tools: they can create the illusion of public consensus, amplify messaging campaigns, and shift narratives without human participants.
The blurred line between marketing and manipulation
While Doublespeed markets its service as a legitimate social media growth solution, critics warn it crosses into the domain of psychological manipulation. AI influencers are capable of spreading misinformation or political propaganda while maintaining the appearance of authenticity.
Experts in digital ethics argue that when influence can be automated, democratic discourse becomes vulnerable to “algorithmic capture,” where engagement metrics, rather than truth, dictate visibility and perception.
Regulatory vacuum and global implications
There are currently no international regulations restricting the use of AI-generated personas for public communication. Major social networks have policies against coordinated inauthentic behavior, but AI systems like Doublespeed’s can operate beneath detection thresholds by mimicking normal user activity.
In effect, this technology allows one organization to simulate an entire digital movement — from fashion trends to political debates — without any real human base behind it. The implications for elections, consumer behavior, and public trust are profound.
Conclusion
Doublespeed’s “mass influence” model may mark a new era where public opinion becomes programmable. The success of AI influencers in generating millions of views from just a handful of accounts demonstrates the potential — and peril — of synthetic media ecosystems.
As artificial personas grow more convincing, the next frontier of online authenticity may depend less on technology itself and more on the transparency and responsibility of those who wield it.
Editorial Team — CoinBotLab