The trend of action figures is a new way that people are misusing the power of artificial intelligence, and I wish I could stop doing it.

The recent rise of action figure creation using artificial intelligence has captured the attention of many users. With the native image capabilities of ChatGPT 4o, it has become possible to generate customized figures that reflect our interests. The motivation behind this is clear; it’s a fun way to interact with technology. By inputting a complete photograph and requesting a custom action figure to be created, the results were initially satisfactory, although the final design did not always manage to resemble the individual portrayed.

Interestingly, this phenomenon has motivated thousands of people to participate in the creation of their own action figures, uniting a community around the generation of these images. Unlike past trends related to intellectual property, such as those involving Studio Ghibli memes, this initiative does not involve the misuse of others' property.

The success of these custom figures is partly due to the quality of the packaging that simulates the actual aesthetic of action figures. The inclusion of accessories that represent personal interests has increased the appeal of these creations. The speed at which these trends spread is directly linked to the quality of the generated images, which are quickly shared on social media, prompting more people to try creating their own.

However, this fun does come with concerns. The generation of images through artificial intelligence carries a cost, which includes subscriptions to services and the environmental impacts resulting from the operation of the models. Reports have mentioned that the production and use of these models can deplete water resources and generate significant carbon emissions. Comments from figures like OpenAI CEO Sam Altman emphasize concerns about the current systems' capacity to handle the growing demand.

It is important to reflect on how artificial intelligence is utilized. While many are focused on image and meme creation, there is significant potential to apply AI to more practical and useful tasks. Tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and other intelligence systems can facilitate everyday activities, from writing to presentation creation.

As artificial intelligence advances and seeks to integrate more into our daily lives, the question arises whether its potential is being adequately harnessed or if, in the pursuit of entertainment, we are overlooking its more functional and transformative uses.