A new trend has taken over social media, and it’s as heartwarming as it is controversial. Pet owners are now uploading pictures of their furry companions—cats and dogs—and asking ChatGPT to show what their pets would look like if they were human. The AI-generated images have gone viral for being cute, funny, and surprisingly touching.
It all began with a post on ChatGPT’s official Instagram, inviting users to join the trend.
“Want to see what your pets would look like if they were a person? Making images in Chat is free and available to everyone. Just upload a photo and ask: Show me what my pet would look like as a human. Pro Tip: Feel free to add attributes you’d like to see or personality traits about your pet to get a really good one!” the company wrote.
The post quickly caught on, with screenshots of user-generated results spreading across X (formerly Twitter). But soon, not everyone was laughing.
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The controversy began when users noticed a pattern: black-furred pets being portrayed as white humans. One user pointed out, “Anyone else see the bias here?” Another commented, “Fun, but of course, the black cat had to be a white person, lol. Little racially biased as usual.”
A third added, “I don’t understand why the black cat wouldn’t be Black.” While a fourth remarked, “They made both a black and a white cat, both white people.”
Though intended as a light-hearted feature, the trend has opened up discussions about bias in AI image generation, particularly around race and representation. This isn’t the first time an AI visual feature has come under scrutiny—just days ago, the internet was flooded with Studio Ghibli-style images created by users experimenting with ChatGPT’s native image generator.
As the feature continues to trend, users are calling for more transparency and inclusivity in how AI interprets race and physical features—especially in creative or personalized tools. Whether the tech evolves with this feedback remains to be seen.
