Google and Microsoft Pay Influencers Hundreds of Thousands for AI Promotion

Google and Microsoft have launched an aggressive influencer marketing strategy, offering content creators between $400,000 and $600,000 for multi-month campaigns promoting their AI tools. These campaigns span platforms like YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and LinkedIn, targeting tech-savvy and professional audiences. Some creators are also earning up to $100,000 per post for shorter campaigns, alongside perks like early tool access and event invitations.

Why Big Tech Is Investing Millions in Creator Partnerships

The push reflects Big Tech’s struggle with traditional advertising saturation. Generative AI companies collectively spent over $1 billion on U.S. digital ads in 2025, a 126% increase from the previous year. Influencer content proves particularly valuable because creators can demonstrate practical applications—showing how AI coding assistants debug programs or how text models accelerate research—making abstract technology feel real and accessible.

Some Creators Reject Big Money Over Ethics

Despite the financial incentives, some prominent creators are walking away from AI sponsorship deals. Jack Lepiarz, with over 7 million followers, refuses all AI-related brand partnerships due to workforce concerns. He previously rejected a $20,000 deal to promote AI image generation tools, stating he would decline even higher offers. “I cannot in good conscience support something that’s going to make it harder for normal people to make a living,” he told CNBC.

This ethical stance represents a growing tension within the creator economy, where lucrative AI partnerships conflict with concerns about technology’s impact on employment and creative industries.