The viral AI portrait trend is sweeping every platform, with Bollywood celebrities leading the retro makeover craze
The pushback comments range from flat dismissal – “No one cared what you looked like in the 80s, no one cares what you look like in 2026” and “People accepting compliments on their AI pics is some borderline identity crisis shit” – to calling out the homogeneous AI aesthetics – “80s mai sabka darzi ek hai aur naayi bhi. And that’s kicked off its own conversation about the need to normalise texture – and how marketing gimmicks labelled it unhealthy to push new products and treatments for “smooth, shiny hair”. Instagram is having an 80s moment – big hair, lots of neon and denim, and AI-generated vintage aesthetics. But not everyone’s on board. Here are the three conversations running in parallel right now. In the last couple of years, we have been bombarded with AI self-portrait trends – we Ghiblified ourselves, turned into action figures, and hugged our younger selves – the list is endless. Posting along with each new wave became its own kind of social currency. And many are feeling the exhaustion now. One unexpected side effect: the trend has brought back frizzy, textured hair to our timelines. But did we really need an AI trend to realise this?
A single AI-generated image is estimated to use roughly 0.01–0.03 kWh of electricity (comparable to charging a smartphone to roughly 50%) and around 15–30 mL of water (around a shot glass), though estimates vary widely.
Scale that to even a fraction of Instagram’s user base posting one or two images each, and the trend’s collective energy draw doesn’t seem like “harmless fun”.There is also the data privacy issue – participating in these trends means handing personal photos directly to AI companies. Conversations around the use of AI in creative fields like fashion, art and filmmaking have been gaining ground over the past few years. But most people didn’t think twice before jumping on these social media AI trends as some harmless fun. This time, however, is different. As public understanding of AI’s resource use grows, more people are connecting these viral image trends directly to their environmental cost. That’s per image, from one user. What happens to them after that is anyone’s guess. Looking for trusted parenting advice? Follow TOI Parenting Circle on Instagram for expert guidance, relatable stories, and practical tips delivered every day. Get the latest Lifestyle News and more. Download the TOI app.