AI Retro Photo Trend Goes Viral Across Social Media Platforms

A viral social media trend is sweeping platforms such as Instagram and X, where users are employing artificial intelligence to transform modern selfies into retro portraits from the 1980s. The trend involves uploading a photograph to AI tools and using detailed prompts to recreate the aesthetics of the era, including voluminous hairstyles, bright colors, and grainy film textures. While the 1980s are the primary focus, some users have expanded the trend to include styles from the 1960s, 1970s, and 1990s. Various AI tools are being used to achieve these results, including ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Meta AI.

Celebrities and public figures have participated in the trend. In Argentina, figures such as Soledad Silveyra and Marcelo Tinelli shared their transformations. In India, Bollywood actors have used the tools to create looks reminiscent of classic cinema, including specific prompts for Bollywood heroes, heroines, and movie posters. To achieve the best results, users are advised to use high resolution selfies with clear backgrounds and specific descriptions of period appropriate clothing and lighting.

While most coverage focuses on the creative and nostalgic aspects of the trend, some reporting highlights the environmental impact of such AI usage. According to research from Carnegie Mellon University and Hugging Face, generating an AI image requires significant computing power, electricity, and water. The United Nations University notes that the electricity needed for a typical AI image can power a 10 watt LED bulb for approximately 17 minutes, and the associated water footprint is roughly 29 milliliters per image. Experts warn that the scale of viral trends can lead to substantial resource consumption across global data centers.