Another day, another viral social media craze. This time, 'hot girl' influencers are harnessing artificial intelligence to digitally insert adorable creatures into their photos, creating whimsical and surreal imagery that's taking platforms like X and Instagram by storm.
The Viral Post That Started It All
X user @jameygannon first spotted and shared this emerging trend in a post that has since exploded across the platform. Her viral observation has been viewed over 14 million times, catapulting the niche aesthetic into the mainstream. She captioned her examples with: 'hot girls have started using AI trend... i'm seeing; photo–surrealism with cute animals.'
The four examples she highlighted showcase influencers posing alongside a menagerie of AI-generated companions. The trend features everything from fluffy dogs and cute rabbits to a particularly popular addition: a large horse. The equine inclusion has garnered significant praise, with one commenter stating, 'The only good one is the horse one,' while another joked that the influencer might have just found a real horse to stay relevant.
Mixed Reactions from Followers
As with many internet trends, public reaction is deeply divided. The comment sections are a battlefield of opinions, reflecting the ongoing cultural conversation about AI's role in creative expression.
One user summed up the collective confusion perfectly by questioning whether the trend was 'cool or scary'. Meanwhile, another offered a pragmatic defence of the digital animals, declaring, 'I'll take AI slop over animal abuse any day!' This sentiment highlights a potential ethical upside—no real animals were handled or potentially stressed during the creation of these picturesque scenes.
How to Create Your Own AI Animal Photo
Despite its impressive appearance, joining this trend is surprisingly straightforward and, best of all, completely free. You don't need to be a tech wizard to add a digital pet to your portfolio.
Here is a simple, step-by-step guide to creating your own AI-enhanced image using Google AI Studio:
- Open Google AI Studio: Navigate to aistudio.google.com and click 'Build' on the left-hand panel.
- Upload a Photo: Select a high-resolution, full-length photo of yourself for the best results, especially if you want animals surrounding you.
- Write a Clear Prompt: Be specific with the AI. Describe the animal, its colour, quantity, and placement. For example: 'Add realistic images of seven brown, fluffy dogs into this photo. Five of the dogs should be running around at my feet, while two should be in my arms.'
- Review and Adjust: The image may take a few minutes to generate. Once it appears, check if you're happy with it or want to tweak the prompt. Save your final creation with the floppy disc icon.
Before you share your masterpiece, remember to label it as 'AI-generated'. Alternatively, Meta's platforms, including Instagram and Facebook, are now implementing systems that will automatically flag content they suspect has been created or modified by AI.
From 90s yearbook nostalgia to AI action figures, the cycle of social media trends continues to evolve, with artificial intelligence now firmly in the hands of content creators looking for the next big thing.
