Virtual Influencers. Creating the Waverly's

Aiden Waverly
Jun 23
3 min read

Updated: Jun 29

Meet Aiden, Eva, Lio, and Runa Waverly. The human faces of an AI-powered brand.

What Are Virtual Influencers and Why Did We Create a Family?

In the fast-moving world of social media content creation, authenticity and relatability are everything. But what if your most reliable, consistent content creators weren’t human at all at least not in the traditional sense?

At Viral Tide, we set out to explore what happens when you build a virtual family of influencers, people created by AI, shaped by storytelling, and brought to life with purpose. The result? The Waverly family: a four-character ensemble that embodies our mission to make AI accessible, educational, and human-centred.

This blog post will walk you through our full creative process from the spark of an idea to the fully realized virtual family that now represents our brand. If you’re a social media creator curious about using AI to elevate your content, you’re in the right place.

Step 1: The Concept. Why Create a Virtual Family?

We didn’t want just avatars. We wanted characters with depth. So we asked:

"What if your AI brand had a heart, a face, and a backstory?"

From there, the idea was born: a relatable, slightly older digital family of influencers that could guide others through the AI learning curve. These wouldn’t be glossy, perfect models — but people who felt real, warm, and approachable.

They would:

Represent different age groups and learning styles
Speak to both beginners and digital natives
Reflect the family-first, beach-inspired, educational tone of the Viral Tide brand

Step 2: Developing the Characters

We used AI tools to design not only how our characters looked, but also who they are.

🔹 Aiden Waverly (AIDEN: Artificial Intelligence Digital Engagement Navigator)

Former military logistics officer
Calm, grounded, perfect for older learners curious about AI
Cargo shorts and coffee in hand, but just as comfortable in a boardroom
Interests: prompt engineering, productivity, real-world applications of AI

🔹 Eva Waverly (EVA: Enhanced Virtual Assistant)

Former teacher and community outreach lead
Emotionally intelligent and deeply passionate about ethical tech
She blends digital literacy with a love of history and storytelling
Interests: creative learning, accessibility, education for late learners

🔹 Lio Waverly (LIO: Learning-Integrated Organism)

Their 20-year-old son, representing Gen Z
Tech-native, fast-paced, full of visual flair
Runs “Lio’s Lens” — short-form content explaining AI through Gen Z humour and remix culture
Interests: AI media tools, social storytelling, youth workshops

🔹 Runa Waverly (RUNA: Real-User Narrative Assistant)

Their 18-year-old daughter
Thoughtful, poetic, and fascinated with historical narratives
Helps bridge the gap between heritage and innovation
Interests: ethical AI, visual storytelling, intergenerational learning

Each name is also an acronym — a subtle nod to their AI-generated roots without ever stating it overtly.

Step 3: Using AI to Design Visuals

With character profiles fully developed, we used AI image generation tools to create hyper-realistic, high-definition portraits of each family member. Settings were carefully chosen to match their personalities:

Golden hour beach cafés
Cozy, natural backdrops
Relaxed but expressive fashion styles
Consistent 9:16 portrait framing for social content and stories

We also produced family group photos, action shots (like Lio editing or Runa journaling), and logo-branded content for reels, blogs, and animations.

Step 4: Integrating the Waverly's into Our Brand

The Waverly's now feature in:

Our social media strategy across TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube Shorts
Our blog content, offering different voices and perspectives
Planned educational series like “Lio’s Lens” and “Beneath the Beret”
Community engagement materials, youth workshops, and creative media

They’ve become the emotional and educational anchor of everything we create — helping our audience connect with AI through familiarity, not fear.

Why This Matters for Content Creators

If you’re a social media creator, here’s why this matters to you:

The AI models making huge money on Instagram

AI characters can enhance, not replace, your brand voice
You can create relatable content without being on camera 24/7
Virtual influencers are a powerful storytelling tool — especially for education, lifestyle, and cause-driven campaigns
With the right tools, you can do this too — even with zero design or coding background

Final Thoughts: Want to Try This Yourself?

Creating the Waverly's was an experiment in blending AI with storytelling, and we’ve only just begun. Whether you're a content creator, educator, or small business owner, the tools now exist to build your own digital ambassadors.

In the coming weeks, we’ll be sharing: