Twitch’s most subscribed streamer is not human

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(Image credit: YouTube / Twitch / Nina Amaki / Gawr Gura / Kuzuha / Netflix / Kageyama Shien)

  • AI-powered VTuber Neuro-sama has become the most subscribed-to streamer on Twitch
  • Neuro-sama has 160,000 active subscribers and a growing fanbase
  • The AI VTuber also broke its Twitch Hype Train record by reaching level 126

Neuro-sama, an AI-powered VTuber created by streamer and developer vedal987, has broken the all-time record for Twitch’s longest Hype Train while also becoming the most subscribed channel on the streaming platform.

The animated AI character beat out top human streamer Jynxzi, who held around 74,000 active subscribers, while Neuro-sama attracted more than 160,000 active subscribers while reaching a world-record level of 126 on a Hype Train, a viewer-funded surge of gifted subscriptions and Bits (a virtual cheer you can buy on Twitch).

Neuro-sama’s fans sustained the train for hours, suggesting a growing acceptance of, or at least interest in, AI personalities. Twitch has always sold itself on live human presence and personality. People want to watch people reacting in real time. And yet here was an animated character powered by code, pulling in more paid supporters than any flesh‑and‑blood creator online.

Neuro‑sama has been making a habit of breaking Hype Train records, setting a new one a year ago at level 111, with nearly 85,000 active subscribers. Last month, the AI hit level 123 and a subscriber count close to 119,000. Two weeks later, another record has been set.

Colorful Array - Neuro-sama (Official Video) - YouTube Colorful Array - Neuro-sama (Official Video) - YouTube
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Neuro‑sama isn’t a traditional streamer and actually predates the current generative AI boom. It was first created in 2018 as a bot that streamed itself playing the rhythm game osu! Vedal987 has transformed it into a full VTuber with a stylized animated model, a synthetic voice, and increasingly sophisticated interaction with chat.

Neuro‑sama is not a plug‑and‑play AI chatbot employing ChatGPT or Gemini. It was built independently and is designed as a chaotic personality that even trolls its creator. That design philosophy is a big reason Neuro‑sama has amassed nearly a million followers and cultivated a community willing to pour real money into keeping her Hype Train alive. Viewers likely see themselves supporting a character they find funny, rather than just an AI experiment.

When viewers gift subscriptions to Neuro‑sama, they’re buying into the spectacle, not confusing an AI for a human. The donations are as much about participating in the event as they are about supporting the streamer.

AI VTubers

Neuro‑sama’s popularity highlights a subtle shift in online entertainment, particularly in streaming. The line between performance and persona is already blurred in VTuber land. Neuro-sama arguably fits neatly into that evolution, albeit employing dynamically generated performances as opposed to scripted human acting.

This doesn’t mean Twitch is about to be overrun by AI streamers. Neuro‑sama is the product of years of development. It's a specific, idiosyncratic character. A generic chatbot on Twitch would not have any way of replicating that success.

Still, Neuro‑sama’s record does point to a more flexible audience than might have been expected. They’re willing to emotionally and financially support non‑human entertainers as long as the experience feels communal and fun. AI streamers aren't coming for your favorite creator (yet). But online entertainment isn't static, and characters that reflect that, whether human or algorithmically assisted like Neuro‑sama, will find an audience.


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Eric Hal Schwartz
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Eric Hal Schwartz is a freelance writer for TechRadar with more than 15 years of experience covering the intersection of the world and technology. For the last five years, he served as head writer for Voicebot.ai and was on the leading edge of reporting on generative AI and large language models. He's since become an expert on the products of generative AI models, such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Anthropic’s Claude, Google Gemini, and every other synthetic media tool. His experience runs the gamut of media, including print, digital, broadcast, and live events. Now, he's continuing to tell the stories people want and need to hear about the rapidly evolving AI space and its impact on their lives. Eric is based in New York City.

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