Why Influencers, AI & Brands Are Colliding in 2026

In this episode, Camille and Phillip unpack the shifts shaping branding in 2026: the collision of influencers and ownership, AI’s growing impact on creativity and speed, why luxury and fashion brands are pushing back on influencer entitlement, and how “well-done but unmemorable” has become the industry’s biggest problem. They break down creator power, parasocial relationships, monoculture’s collapse, viral moments without velocity, and why strategy, not trends, will separate the brands that win from the ones that disappear. This is a candid, high-level conversation about attention, authority, and what it actually takes to build something that lasts this year