Are Fake Influencers Steering You Towards the Wrong Tech?

I see many posts on my feed from so called influencers. I can easily print their names and links to their profiles but...... They seem to hold the reins to innovation, and their impact on the adoption of cutting-edge technologies is undeniable but here is the catch?

Scrolling through your social media feed, you’ll find countless influencers discussing Artificial Intelligence (AI), blockchain, quantum computing, and a host of other complex topics. But how genuine are these influencers? Are they really experts guiding you to the right technology, or are they glorified pimps acting as intermediaries for vendors?

Understanding the psychological underpinnings of influence is crucial to grasping how some influencers can manipulate their audiences. At their best, these individuals can lead you toward the right technological innovations. At their worst, they are modern-day market manipulators, no different from the rich elite who control financial markets to their benefit.

Influencers and Market Manipulation: Two Sides of the Same Coin?

Have you ever stopped to think about why certain technologies become so popular, seemingly overnight? Could it be a genuine technological breakthrough, or could it be orchestrated manipulation? The digital landscape today bears an uncanny resemblance to how the wealthy manipulate financial markets. Influencers, much like the market’s elite, have significant sway in shaping public opinion, especially around technology. In this way, some influencers are acting as 'pimps', pushing vendors’ products in the guise of ‘expert recommendations.’

Much like financial puppeteers, fake influencers strategically curate their image to appear credible. However, just as market manipulations can leave investors burned, following the wrong influencer can lead companies to adopt the wrong technology — wasting both time and resources.

Spotting Fake Influencers: How to Unveil the Illusion

To avoid falling into the trap of such ‘pimped-out’ recommendations, you must become adept at distinguishing real influencers from impostors. While these individuals may look and sound convincing, there are several key indicators that can help you identify whether their expertise is genuine or merely surface-level.

1. The Shift in Interests: Have They Been Consistent?

A crucial red flag is a lack of consistency in their message. A few years ago, these same influencers were likely promoting entirely different subject, perhaps health and wellness or KPI scoring. Suddenly, their feed is flooded with AI buzzwords. Authentic influencers are typically deeply rooted in their niche; they have a consistent history of involvement in the development or promotion of relevant technologies. If someone jumps on trends as quickly as they fade, it’s a sign they’re not experts — they’re opportunists.

Ask yourself: Have they been involved in technology discussions for years, or did they just join the conversation because AI is the hot topic?

2. Credentials: A Paper Thin Foundation?

Check their credentials. How often do these influencers boast about attending prestigious institutions like Harvard, MIT, or Stanford? It sounds impressive, but dig deeper — did they merely complete an online course, or have they actually studied, researched, or taught at these institutions? Many influencers use the allure of big names to paint an inflated picture of their expertise, yet they lack the rigorous background of someone truly immersed in AI development.

Does their experience go beyond name-dropping elite universities? Or is it smoke and mirrors?

3. Have They Ever Developed AI Solutions?

This the most critical and vital sign.

A genuine influencer in the AI space likely has hands-on experience developing, implementing, or researching AI technologies. Do their contributions extend to meaningful projects? Have they ever worked on AI solutions that solve real-world problems? If their track record includes little more than retweets of AI headlines, you may be looking at a fake expert.

On LinkedIn the ratio is 8/10 on Fake Influencers.

Ask: Have they actively participated in creating AI tools, or are they simply good at repeating industry jargon?

4. Bias and Vendor Affiliations

Influencers should offer unbiased opinions based on their experience and understanding of technology. However, fake influencers often have vested interests, being biased toward certain vendors or products they’re financially incentivised to promote. If an influencer’s content consistently favours a particular vendor, without considering other solutions or offering transparent analysis, they are likely a vendor's mouthpiece rather than a reliable technology guide.

When was the last time they provided a balanced overview, or are they blatantly favouring a specific product or service?

5. The Networking Trap: Luring the Unwary

Networking events in posh hotels might seem like an excellent way to connect with thought leaders in the tech industry. But beware! Some fake influencers use these events to create a facade of authority, luring unsuspecting victims with grand promises and vague buzzwords. The focus here is not on genuine knowledge-sharing but rather on leveraging their audience for self-promotion and vendor deals.

Ever notice how many of these so-called experts hold glossy ‘mastermind’ events, but fail to offer real insights into AI technology? Ask yourself: Is this event about sharing knowledge or selling connections?

Evaluating Your AI Solution: A Checklist for Sceptics

So, how do you navigate this complex landscape? By critically evaluating both the technology and those who advocate for it. Here’s a simple checklist to help you assess AI solutions — and the influencers who promote them:

1. Evaluate the Influencer’s Background Are they genuinely involved in the field, or are they riding the AI wave without any tangible experience?
2. Investigate the Technology Don’t just take the influencer’s word. Look into how the technology works, what problem it solves, and whether it’s suitable for your needs.
3. Check for Bias Is the influencer promoting one product above all others without offering alternatives? Are they financially tied to a specific vendor?
4. Look for Real-World Applications Does the AI solution they advocate have successful case studies? Have businesses benefited from it? Has it been implemented in a variety of industries?
5. Test Before Commitment Always trial the technology before committing to it fully. A genuine AI solution should be able to demonstrate its effectiveness on a small scale before larger deployment.

Conclusion: Don’t Let the Illusion Fool You

The rise of fake influencers is a by-product of our increasingly digital world, where people can mask their true intentions behind appealing aesthetics and impressive rhetoric. By understanding how these individuals use advanced psychological techniques to sway you, you can better protect yourself and your business from making costly decisions based on superficial recommendations.

Remember, true influencers will offer you more than just buzzwords and shiny packaging. They will demonstrate consistent, unbiased expertise and genuine contributions to the field. Always question the motivations of those pushing new technologies, and approach with caution.

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