Actress Brooke Shields recently shared an image of an action-figure version of herself, complete with a needlepoint kit and a pet terrier. Meanwhile, Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene from Georgia envisioned her own figurine with a gavel and a Bible.
These lifelike dolls are not available in toy stores yet, as they are being generated using artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT.
Social media users have been using A.I. to create Barbie-style versions of themselves, their pets, and even famous personalities like Anna Wintour and Beethoven. This trend has sparked frustration among illustrators who oppose the use of unlicensed artwork to train these A.I. tools, raising concerns about the impact on their livelihoods.
Artist Linh Truong added a caption to her illustration, declaring it “HUMAN MADE.” The image depicts her alongside her sketchbook and her cat, Kayla.
Artist Ms. Truong sees A.I. action figures as a way for tech companies to establish personal connections with users. She believes that these creations reflect the companies’ desire for users to see themselves in their products.
Many people find the idea of having a personalized action figure appealing, like fitness trainer Suzie Geria, who was impressed by the accuracy of her A.I.-generated figurine.
The surge in A.I. platforms generating images has raised concerns among artists and musicians who fear for their livelihoods. Deepfake images, including explicit ones, have also caused issues in various sectors.
Ms. Geria empathizes with those whose jobs may be impacted by A.I., acknowledging the complexities of the situation. Marketing professional Pat Bassermann used ChatGPT to create an action figure of himself, which prompted his daughters to request their own personalized figurines.
Like many others, illustrator Martha Ratcliff is concerned about the implications of A.I. portraiture trends on the creative industry. She believes that while hopping on trends can be fun, the broader impact on creatives should not be overlooked.
To address this issue, she created her own hand-drawn version of the trend, showcasing herself with her newborn and personal belongings in a unique and human touch.