Pet Owners Turn Dogs Into Humans with Viral AI Trend

LEEDS, U.K. — Pet owners worldwide are embracing a new and quirky trend that transforms canine companions into human likenesses using artificial intelligence. As social media platforms see a surge in these fascinating creations, many are eager to see how their beloved pets would appear as people.

The trend began earlier this month when users started uploading photos of their dogs to AI platforms, particularly ChatGPT, with prompts like, “What would my dog look like as a human?” This has resulted in a host of amusing and sometimes uncanny results, as owners post side-by-side comparisons between their pets and their AI-generated human counterparts.

In a recent viral video posted on TikTok, a Pomeranian underwent transformation into an unamused older woman, amusing viewers while raising eyebrows about the authenticity of the results. “The image closely matched our dog’s personality, which was hilarious but also kind of creepy,” one user noted. On platforms like Instagram and Reddit, the hashtag #petstopeople has gained traction with thousands of users sharing their creations.

The trend is not limited to dogs; it has rapidly expanded to cats and even other pets, prompting creators to explore various personalities and occupations for their animals. Some users have experimented with different prompts, envisioning their pets in scenarios such as office workers or athletes, to add a comedic twist.

Interestingly, the fun isn’t confined to casual social media users. One company turned their office dogs into human employees, highlighting how AI can blend work and play. Their golden retriever transformed into a charismatic middle-aged human in a suit, while a bulldog morphed into a rock band enthusiast.

ChatGPT, which gained popularity after its November 2022 launch by OpenAI, has become the go-to tool for such creative ventures. Known for providing engaging and often accurate results, the platform has allowed users to generate human-like images that mimic their pets’ characteristics. However, as the trend grows, so do concerns regarding the environmental impact of running large language models, which require extensive computational power.

Despite its lighthearted nature, some pet owners express concern over the implications of seeing their animals depicted as humans. One owner shared, “It’s been a strange experience, now I feel like I’m looking at my dog differently. It’s a funny trend, but also a little unsettling to think about what that means for our connection with them.”

The process to join in on the fun is straightforward. Users simply need to create an account with ChatGPT, upload a clear image of their pet, and provide a prompt to generate their human version. As more people participate, experts anticipate this trend to inspire further discussions on how AI affects human-animal relationships.

As the trend continues to gain momentum, pet owners are encouraged to share their creations online, highlighting the unique bond between pets and their humans while exploring the fascinating world of AI-generated imagery.