Influencer Marketing Pioneer Launches AI-First Media Venture at CES 2026

The Rise of AI in Media: A New Era

Ted Murphy, the visionary behind the modern influencer marketing industry, has unveiled COEY, an AI-first media technology company, at CES 2026. This launch marks a significant shift in the media landscape, as COEY aims to automate content creation on a global scale, leveraging advanced AI technologies to produce high-quality, machine-generated content.

COEY operates through three integrated divisions: AI Automation, AI Studios, and AI Media. The AI Automation division focuses on designing intelligent workflows that seamlessly integrate with existing marketing and sales stacks. AI Studios serves as a high-volume creative engine, producing AI-first video, audio, and visual assets for brands and agencies. Meanwhile, AI Media consists of a proprietary network of AI-first social channels and websites, acting as a live R&D lab to test new formats and optimization strategies before deploying them to clients.

Murphy's move into AI-first media is informed by his extensive experience in the creator economy and early adoption of AI. He founded IZEA in 2006, which faced initial backlash but eventually facilitated nearly 4 million creator transactions and served global icons like Starbucks and NVIDIA. After raising $140 million in capital and generating over $5 billion in shareholder liquidity, Murphy is now focused on the total automation of content creation.

The Content Crossover: AI's Growing Influence

COEY's mission is rooted in a data-driven prediction: by 2028, 50% of all internet content will be generated by artificial intelligence—a milestone the company calls 'The Content Crossover.' As AI models improve, the distinction between human-created and machine-generated content will become less significant. Consumers will prioritize the relevance, speed, quality, and intelligence of AI-driven content over traditional media.

COEY develops 'Autonomous Content Machines' that generate high-fidelity output, including AI avatars, brand campaigns, long-form posts, and internal communications with varying levels of human oversight. A flagship example is COEY Cast, a daily podcast produced entirely by the company's autonomous systems, handling the full lifecycle from research to multi-platform publishing.

The acceptance cycle of AI in media mirrors the early days of influencer marketing. Initially met with skepticism, influencer marketing is now a coveted career for Generation Alpha. Similarly, concerns about AI-generated content's quality and authenticity are being overshadowed by the rapid improvement and creative potential of these tools. When guided by human expertise, AI can unlock creative output that surpasses individual capabilities.

The Future of Autonomous Media

As AI saturates the media landscape, the key to success will be the integration of autonomous speed with human intent. The winners will be those who can orchestrate systems that iterate at the speed of algorithms while maintaining the precision of human oversight. COEY empowers organizations to move faster and create at scale through a balance of human guidance and machine autonomy.

Murphy's vision for COEY is not just about technological advancement but also about public acceptance. Just as audiences embraced the authenticity of vloggers over polished TV commercials, they will soon prioritize the relevance and intelligence of AI-driven content. The 'Content Crossover' is not merely a technical milestone but a shift in public perception and acceptance of AI-generated media.