A so-called AI "monk" recently accumulated 2.5 million Instagram followers within just 3 months—entirely through AI-generated content. But here's the kicker: this artificial persona is now monetizing the followers by offering wellness classes for $50 monthly. It's a textbook case of how social media can be gamed with synthetic content to build massive audiences quickly, then exploited for profit. The speed and scale raise questions about authenticity in digital spaces and how easy it's become to build credibility through automation rather than genuine engagement.