The creator economy in 2026: how AI, technology and partnerships are shaping what's next

Infloww

The creator economy in 2026: how AI, technology and partnerships are shaping what's next

Key lessons learned from the Q&A between Infloww and Fanvue at TES Marbella 2026.

Christian

Apr 23, 2026

The shift from manual operations to AI-powered agencies isn’t on the horizon. It’s here. From agentic systems to AI creators, the agencies pulling ahead are experimenting early, going hybrid, and building their own tools.

At TES Marbella 2026, Infloww’s CMO Pablo sat down with Fanvue’s Head of Agencies, Kalil, to talk about where things are heading in 2026. What’s working, what’s coming, and what’s already being left behind. You can watch the full discussion below, and read our key insights that were discussed underneath.

The biggest shifts today

Key insight: Manual operations are out. Agentic AI is in.

Agencies are moving away from large VA and team member setups toward agentic AI. These are systems that operate autonomously rather than just respond to prompts.

What Fanvue is seeing from agencies:

  • Building internal tools using vibe coding

  • Using platforms such as Claude, OpenClaw and Copilot to automate workflows

  • Taking ownership of their stack to own their data, not relying on third-party suppliers

How Fanvue is responding to these shifts

Key insight: Open API means more ownership, and less reliance on suppliers.

Fanvue opened its API to agencies and creators, letting them build what they actually need, rather than waiting for a platform to build it for them. This means agencies can pull their own data, build their own tools, and plug in their stack (including Infloww), to get the outcomes they need for their agency.

How AI is helping creators to capitalize

Key insight: speed is everything, and AI closes that gap.

Jumping on a viral moment means organizing a shoot, lighting, editing, and spending time in front of the camera. Doing all of that can mean missing the moment.

  • Tools such as Fal.ai, Higgsfield, Sora and others, allow creators to jump on a trend

  • The quality gap between AI and real content is closing fast

  • The creators winning are the ones moving quickly

“...if you’re not going to jump on that moment, other people will. And while fans are loyal to creators, they won’t wait around forever for when the creator is ready. AI can supplement this.” Kalil

Longevity: how long can a creator's career last?

Key insight: AI allows creator ‘lifespans’ to extend.

In sports, athletes have a career window. So does a creator, unless AI extends it. With AI supplementing a creator’s brand, they can continue generating revenue regardless of illness, time off, or life changes. Their brand keeps running, and their income keeps coming in.

AI for conversation and memory, not just content

Key insight: AI team members are replacing entry-level assistants

Pablo highlighted that at Infloww, there is a clear pattern:

  • Agencies are hiring fewer team members overall

  • Low-level chatting assistants are already being replaced by AI

The trend that is emerging is that AI could handle the volume and free up the best team members to focus on closing.

“That has a lot of value as a sales person. If someone could get rid of 90% of my day, I’d pay good money for it.” Kalil

What’s coming from Fanvue

Key insight: Infloww integration, mainstream creator focus, and API in the app store.

Fanvue’s key highlights and roadmap:

  • Fanvue x Infloww. Read the full story here.

  • A major push into mainstream creators, such as Alisha Lehmann, known as Europe’s sexiest football player, and a huge collaboration with Cardi B.

  • API coming to the app store

Fanvue believes that the SFW, mainstream opportunity is significant, and that capitalizing on this market benefits everyone on the platform. Helping to remove the stigma of being on a fan platform brings in more creators. For creators such as athletes or actors, agencies that know how to run fan platforms can be better placed to help them with this new revenue stream than traditional talent managers.

The biggest takeaway

AI-hybrid agencies are the future. By incorporating new technology that allows you to jump on the moment and extend the longevity of your creators, agencies can improve their revenue streams and stay ahead of the crowd.

About the author

Christian

Christian

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