ANOTHER trend has swept social media as users transform themselves into Barbie dolls.
Inspired by the hit 2023 movie, fans have been discovering if they are more Barbie or Ken using ChatGPT.
Barbie's rising popularity
Barbie has been popular since the 1950s and went on to inspire TV shows, movies and countless toys based on its iconic designs.
The brand saw a significant boost in popularity in 2023 when the eponymous movie starring Margot Robbie.
In 2025, a new trend kicked off which saw fans recreating themselves as a Barbie doll.
The Barbie filter trend
The trend involves using ChatGPT to transform themselves into a doll, complete with action figure-style boxes and stylish accessories.
The final images have a glossy, staged feel that throws it back to Barbie ads from the '90s and 2000s.
To transform yourself into a Barbie doll, log into ChatGPT and upload a picture of yourself.
You can either use a headshot or a full body picture, but you'll need to include some additional prompts if you go with the first option.
Next, write a prompt asking ChatGPT to transform you into an action figure.
For example, your prompt could read: “Draw an action figure toy of the person in this photo.
“The figure should be a full figure and displayed in its original blister pack.
“She always has (insert objects of your choice here).”;
If you want your doll to be Barbie themed, then you will need to include that in your prompt.
Alternative Barbie filters
There are some alternative Barbie filters available, which aren't on ChatGPT.
These include BaiRBIE.me which allows you to fully customise your doll once it's been generated and the Barbie filter on TikTok.
Warner Bros created its very own Barbie generator, which transforms you either into Ken or his famous girlfriend.
The generator was released to coincide with the 2023 film and has been an evergreen success.
AI's social media trends
The Barbie trend is far from the first online fad to focus on AI.
In Spring 2025, users started using ChatGPT to see what .
Some of the results were hilarious, as pugs were transformed into middle aged men and dachshunds became daring fashionistas.
Another trend included transforming pictures of friends and family into a Studio Ghibli style.
Studio Ghibli is a Japanese animation company behind films including The Boy and the Hero, Grave of the Fireflies and Spirited Away.
It is known for its distinctive anime art style, which features soft colours and rich, painting-like designs.
AI controversies
Despite its immense popularity, the use of AI has been increasingly criticised by experts.
Some have pointed to the environmental damage caused by AI, as it uses a shocking amount of electricity even for simple tasks.
AI is operated from data centres dotted around the world, forcing demands for energy to soar.
In 2022, data centres in the US used 2,688 megawatts of energy but this rocketed to 5,341 megawatts at the end of the following decade.
This was due to a rise in the use of generative AI.
A massive amount of water is needed to keep these data centres cool, placing a too.
The creator of Studio Ghibli has also hit out at the use of AI.
Hayao Miyazaki, the brain behind the animation studio, described AI as “disgusting” in 2016.
He said: “I am utterly disgusted.
“I strongly feel that this is an insult to life itself.”;
Others have also criticised AI companies for using intellectual property that doesn't belong to them, though ChatGPT has said it cannot copy the work of individual artists.
Instead, it can only mimic art belonging to larger organisations.
