I’m laughing my butt off. I asked ChatGPT to make me into an action figure so I could ride the wave of the viral AI trend. And, wow, did it deliver. It turned me into a rock star figurine in skin-tight leather, suitable for ages 4 and up.Â
The amusing action figure trend has expanded across social media in recent days. It’s also called the “Barbie box” trend. It’s tough to pinpoint the origin but you’re probably seeing your friends, family and colleagues sharing images of themselves reimagined as packaged toys.Â
Here’s how to use ChatGPT to make an image of your own.
Step 1: Head to ChatGPT
Pop on over to ChatGPT, which now offers free image generation for everyone. I asked ChatGPT how many images it would let me make free and it said it would do up to 15 per day. After that, image generation goes on pause for free users until the limit resets.
Step 2: Upload a full-body photo
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This is the full-body image I gave ChatGPT to work with.
I queried ChatGPT for guidance on how to make me into an action figure. It asked for a full-body photo. You can upload images from the “ask anything” box. I found a not-very-clear shot from my photo archives and sent it along. Good enough, I figured.
Step 3: Tell ChatGPT your preferences
The AI service asked me for preferences for outfit or costume, pose or expression, accessories or weapons, name or title for the action figure and packaging style — such as retro, modern or comic-book inspired.Â
You can be as detailed or vague as you like. I went with vague: “I’d like my outfit to look like a rock star with a rocking pose, a guitar and a retro packaging style.”
Step 4: Wait, then share
Here’s the full glory of my AI action figure.
It can take ChatGPT a few moments to generate your action figure. If you like what you see, then go ahead and download it and blast it across your socials.Â
Step 5 (optional): Adjust your image
If ChatGPT doesn’t quite nail it, then ask for tweaks.Â
I tried a new version with blue jeans and a pink Telecaster guitar. It delivered but forgot the action figure part and the new image looked further removed from my actual facial appearance. A third tweak took me into Billy Idol territory when I asked for spiky blonde hair. My action figure’s leg ended up outside of the “plastic” packaging window. I tried again.
This looks nothing like me.
Don’t expect perfection. The more I asked for changes, the weirder it got. Eventually, ChatGPT turned me into a Jon Bon Jovi-esque figure with three fingers on my left hand playing a guitar with seven strings.Â
AI action figure inspiration
Need some inspiration? Check out these fun and funny AI action figures shared on social media.
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The Royal Mail made an AI-generated Postie action figure.
Seinfeld fan account Seinfeldism generated a series of Seinfeld-related images. The Kramer is pitch-perfect.
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This AI-generated Kramer action figure looks like it should be official merch.
Barbie boxes aren’t just for humans. Bear, a German shepherd with 134,000 Instagram followers, looks pretty sweet as a toy.
Dogs make good action figures, too.
ChatGPT is reasonably skillful at taking a full-body photo and transforming it into a fake toy. If nothing else, it should give you a good laugh. Get creative with it. I actually play in a rock band. ChatGPT was surprisingly accurate with how I dress on a gig night, even though it made me look a little like a female Bruce Springsteen. Rock on, ChatGPT.
