Artistic Caprice on TikTok Encourages AI to Finalize Photos for Users

Artistic Caprice on TikTok Encourages AI to Finalize Photos for Users

TikTok's Bizarre AI Trend: A hilarious yet nonsensical phenomenon sweeping TikTok

Jump on the bandwagon of the latest TikTok fad, where your photos get animated by AI into a surrealist dreamscape! This pulse-pounding trend morphs ordinary snapshots into absurd scenarios that'll leave you in stitches.

Check out this example: A regular shot of a man chilling with his furry pal turns into a mind-boggling spectacle, transforming the dog into a human wearing a dog costume (because why not?), and a cop arresting the man screaming in hysteria with three arms! One user hilariously commented, "Caught laughing so hard I woke up the entire house 🤣🤣🤣🤣."

You gotta love it! "This is my worst nightmare for tonight," quipped another joyful viewer.

Want more? Here's another one: A fully clothed woman mysteriously appears floating in an empty bathtub. In a flash, water magically fills the tub, the woman effortlessly walks through the porcelain tub as if it were air, only to miraculously vanish back into the tub when a robber bursts through the bathroom door. Talk about a wild ride!

So, what's the secret sauce to joining in? Grab TikTok's very own editing app, CapCut, and follow the trend's template. Each template offers unique tweaks, such as asking, "Who will be taken by the police?" and promises of AI predicting "what will happen next." I picked a photo of my cat enjoying dinner and let the AI loose. Suddenly, my cat was rocking a purple blazer, white dress shirt, kicking the air, turning into an old Asian person, and raining vegetables down like a storm!

However, beneath the enticing silliness of this trend lies a more significant concern. The environmental impact of AI is no joke, and TikTok users seem unfazed by the ethical implications. In fact, an open letter by over 130 civil society organizations, including heavyweights like Amnesty International and Defend Democracy, called on the AI industry and regulators to address the environmental consequences of their technology[5]. Whether or not this specific TikTok trend adds significantly to the issue remains to be seen, but MIT Technology Review found that a newer AI model requires a whopping 3.4 million joules to generate a five-second video[6], which is more than 700 times the energy required to create a top-notch picture!

Stay tuned for the Trend Report to unravel what's viral, what's next, and what it all means. Sign up for our weekly Trend Report newsletter, and remember: by clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you're 16+, and you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Cool, huh?

In case you're curious, here are a few insights into the environmental impact of AI:

1. Energy consumption: AI tools, particularly generative models used in CapCut templates, consume quite a bit of electricity, increasing greenhouse gas emissions.
2. Carbon Footprint: Multiple users accessing and creating AI-powered content like TikTok trends amass a significant overall environmental impact.
3. Public Health Implications: Increased energy demand for AI systems can cause higher CO2 emissions, potentially exacerbating local weather extremities.
4. Comparison to Other Digital Activities: While AI tools might consume less energy than gaming or streaming services, the growing trend of digital energy usage still poses environmental concerns.

[5] Amnesty International, Defend Democracy, and more urge AI industry and regulators to address environmental impact // TechCrunch (2/2023)

[6] Newer AI model consumes 700 times more energy than creating a high-quality image // MIT Technology Review (7/2022)

1. The hilarious TikTok trend that animates photos using artificial intelligence has caught everyone's attention, but its environmental impact is a significant concern.
2. Earlier this year, over 130 civil society organizations, including Amnesty International and Defend Democracy, called on the AI industry and regulators to address the environmental consequences of their technology.
3. One important aspect of this issue is the energy consumption of AI tools, particularly generative models used in apps like TikTok's CapCut.
4. A newer AI model requires 700 times more energy to generate a five-second video compared to creating a high-quality image, which highlights the environmental concerns associated with AI trends on platforms like TikTok.

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