Tech giants offer up to $600,000 to promote AI, but many creators are unconvinced — here’s why

Big tech companies like Microsoft and Google are offering big checks to social media influencers, hoping to turn them into promoters of Artificial Intelligence (AI) products and encourage more people to try their services.

This trend can also be seen among AI players like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Meta, who are hiring social media creators to post sponsored content on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and even LinkedIn. CNBC reported.

These promotions don’t come cheap. According to industry experts cited by the agency, some content creators can make a fortune with payments reaching hundreds of thousands of dollars in exchange for influencer collaborations.

This hot trend is also closely followed by artificial intelligence companies, which have rapidly increased their advertising in the past year. Generative AI platforms spent more than $1 billion on digital ads in the US in 2025, according to data from Sensor Tower; This figure increased by 126% compared to the previous year.

Influencer marketing is now emerging as the next battleground in the AI ​​boom, where tech companies look to leverage popular content creators to attract users and stand out in an increasingly crowded market.

How much do these companies offer?

Microsoft and Google paid social media creators between $400,000 and $600,000 for long-term partnerships lasting several months. AI companies, meanwhile, are willing to spend much more than others, the agency said.

Companies developing artificial intelligence have a lot of money to spare. For example, Anthropic recently generated over $10 billion in revenue at a $350 billion valuation, while OpenAI was valued at $500 billion late last year. Moreover, technology giants such as Microsoft, Alphabet and Meta are each worth trillions of dollars; This means that all these players have deep pockets and hence are willing to spend aggressively to stay ahead.

Some creators can charge up to $100,000 per post. “Some of these big companies have a lot of money to spend,” said AJ Eckstein, founder and CEO of Creator Match, “and they don’t care about negotiating.”

Digital ad spending by Google and Microsoft to promote their AI products rose nearly 495% last month compared to the previous year, according to Sensor Tower. OpenAI also increased digital ad spend by more than 10x in 2025.

Beyond sponsored posts, AI companies spend heavily on content creators by delivering event invitations to select individuals, offering early access to new tools, and paying for their travel and lodging.

Some creators refuse to be influenced

While their paychecks may seem like a gold mine, not all creators are comfortable accepting brand deals tied to AI products. Different individuals have their own reasons for doing this.

Some said they turned down deals with AI companies due to ethical, environmental and creative concerns. Others said their audiences could become hostile towards AI sponsorships, creating fear of backlash or being “canceled”, a situation in which the individual is targeted by netizens.

Several creators also told CNBC that they are turning down potentially tens of thousands of dollars in sponsored deals related to AI. Creator agency experts say the backlash is strongest for image- or video-producing tools, which many creators see as a direct replacement for their artistic labor. CNBC reported.

Content creator Jack Lepiarz, who goes by the username Jack the Whipper and has more than 7 million followers across platforms, told CNBC that he immediately rejects any brand deals that involve the promotion of artificial intelligence.

Lepiarz, whose content tends to focus on his performances at Renaissance fairs, said: “I cannot in conscience support something that would make it difficult for normal people to make a living.”

In a nutshell, this means some influencers are taking a hard line when it comes to AI. Even if a brand deal yields good returns, they often choose to stay away from promoting AI products to protect their value, credibility, or relationship with their target audience.