You might have recently noticed friends and family members showing up in miniature while browsing social media. It’s part of a growing trend in which people employ generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools like ChatGPT and Copilot to literally repackage themselves as pocket-sized dolls and action figures.
Online, it has become very popular, with influencers and brands experimenting with making their own miniature versions. Brands and influencers are experimenting with making their own mini-me as it has gained popularity online. However, some are warning against following the seemingly harmless trend, arguing that worries about AI’s energy and data usage should take priority above fears about missing out.
The AI doll generator: how does it work?
Although it seems difficult, the procedure is straightforward. A user uploads a photo of themselves to a program such as ChatGPT, along with written instructions that specify the desired final image. These directives are very crucial.
From the items a person wishes to appear with to the type of packaging they should be in—including imitating the box and font of well-known toys like Barbie—users instruct the AI tool on everything it is supposed to produce.
Many people will then further customize it by adding their name, occupation, and preferred attire. However, it is not always effective, and many people have also shared some of the humorous errors the tools made, making the action dolls appear completely different.
Image generators, like other generative AI tools, are prone to fabrication and may assume certain characteristics about how a person should appear. Not only that, but a plethora of internet firms, like Royal Mail and the beauty giant Mario Badescu, have jumped on the trend.
Why is it appealing?
By their very nature, trends can push people to participate in order to avoid missing out, even though they come and go.
Jasmine Enberg, lead social media analyst at eMarketer, claims that generative AI speeds up and simplifies the process of creating and following trends. According to her, technology has made creating content for the internet faster and simpler, which could have the unintended consequence of increasing the rate at which other social media users become irritated with it. However, she thinks that “as the tech becomes a more regular part of our digital lives,” AI-driven trends will start to show up more frequently in our feeds.
What are the main issues?
The practice has been criticized by some who are worried about its effects on the environment, despite the fact that its playful element may have lured many to it.
According to Queen Mary University London professor Gina Neff, ChatGPT is “burning through energy” and the data centers that operate it use more electricity annually than 117 nations.
According to Lance Ulanoff, US editor of TechRadar, who wrote an article about the trend, “We joke around that every time we make one of these AI memes, it kills a tree.” That’s exaggerated, of course, but it’s reasonable to claim that creating content with AI has costs, and maybe we should think about and use it differently.
Additionally, people have expressed concern that the technology that creates images without payment may have been developed using copyrighted data.
“Our privacy, our culture, and our planet are all at risk from ChatGPT Barbie,” Ms. Neff stated. Personalization may be pleasant, but these systems are blending characters and brands together without taking accountability for the resulting slop.
Furthermore, Jo Bromilow, director of social and influencer at PR and creative firm MSL UK, queries whether a cute, humorous outcome is truly worth it. Setting boundaries for our conscientious use of AI is essential if we are to use it effectively, she said.
