I'm laughing my butt off. I asked ChatGPT to turn me into an action figure to join the viral AI trend, and it nailed it—transforming me into a rock star figurine in skin-tight leather, suitable for ages 4 and up. This amusing action figure craze, also known as the "Barbie box" trend, has spread widely on social media. Though its exact origin is unclear, many people are sharing images of themselves reimagined as packaged toys. Here’s how to create your own AI-generated action figure and 3D print it for real: **Making Your AI Action Figure** 1. Visit ChatGPT, which now offers free image generation—up to 15 images daily for free users before pausing. 2. Ask ChatGPT for help creating an action figure, and upload a full-body photo via the chatbox—even a blurry one works. 3. Provide outfit, pose, accessory, name, and packaging style preferences. I was vague, requesting a rock star look with a guitar and retro packaging. 4. Wait for ChatGPT to generate the image, then download and share it. 5. If needed, request tweaks. My attempts included blue jeans with a pink guitar and spiky blonde hair, leading to some quirky results like extra fingers or odd poses. Perfection isn’t guaranteed—the more you tweak, the weirder it can get. Eventually, I resembled a Jon Bon Jovi-style figure with a seven-string guitar. **3D Printing Your Creation** James Bricknell, CNET’s 3D printing expert, took this trend further by 3D-printing a ChatGPT action figure. Here’s his process: 1. Edit your AI image to crop out excess packaging art, focusing on the figure against a solid background. Sometimes, minor tweaks are needed to help modeling software distinguish details (e. g. , separating glasses from eyebrows). 2. Go to Maker World's Maker Lab (sign-up required and free).

Locate the “Image to 3D Model” tool. 3. Upload the cropped image. The AI converts it into a 3D printable model over a few minutes. Multiple tries are free until you download—downloading costs Maker World credits (provided at sign-up). 4. Import the exported . OBJ model into 3D printing slicer software like Bambu Studio or Prusa Slicer. Use the slicer’s repair function if needed. Color-capable printers let you add paint; otherwise, the print is single-color. Ensure feet are supported for stability. 5. Print your model. James used a Bambu Lab H2D printer; full-color printing took around 11 hours, with single-color prints faster. He scaled the model up 150% from the Maker World output and used lots of supports for fragile parts like arms and glasses. He also printed accessories, like a VR headset glued to the figure’s hand. 6. Enjoy your mini-action figure!While not as perfect or articulated as professional models, this AI+3D print method is a fun, accessible project that saves countless hours of modeling. **Inspiration for Your AI Action Figure** Social media features many creative AI action figures: - The UK’s Royal Mail Instagram shared a cute “Postie” figure with an envelope and safety vest. - A Seinfeld fan account generated spot-on Kramer images. - Barbie boxes aren’t just for people—Bear, a German shepherd with 134, 000 Instagram followers, looks great as a toy. ChatGPT is surprisingly adept at turning full-body photos into fake toys that can also be funny. My rock star action figure accurately reflected my gig-night style, though with a hint of female Bruce Springsteen vibes. Rock on, ChatGPT!