AI action figure trend: What it is and how to make yours

If your FYP, timeline, or feed feels like a toy aisle lately, you're not imagining things. The latest internet trend has everyone turning themselves — or their favorite characters — into AI-generated action figures.

These digital creations are everywhere. Instagram, X, TikTok, and even — actually, especially — LinkedIn, have all been inundated with them. The trend is so widespread that even ESPN, a site hardly known for covering internet fads, recently highlighted soccer stars like Lionel Messi getting the action figure treatment.

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The trend has skewed toward being, well, pretty boring. People are using it to create LinkedIn posts featuring, say, content marketer action figures wearing lanyards and badges. Still, that hasn't stopped folks from creating more action figures — and it's not super difficult.

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How to make your own AI action figure

Most folks are creating these action figures with ChatGPT, so you'd first have to log in. Image generation is free now, so you shouldn't have to pay to make your own action figure.

From there, you just have to deliver a prompt to create a figure. A viral Instagram post from @chatgptricks gives a sample prompt that details wanting the action figure in a plastic shell, surrounded by objects that reflect their career, while also giving details about the desired outfit and facial expression.

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Others recommend getting specific — include the kinds of accessories or background elements you'd want in the packaging. And yes, you'll need to upload a full-body photo of yourself to ChatGPT. That part’s kind of obvious, but it’s also where some folks pause. It’s always worth thinking about how much personal info you’re comfortable sharing with AI, even when it’s just for fun.