CHATGPT TOLD TO CREATE 'MORE BEAUTIFUL' FACES—PRODUCES DISTURBING RESULTS

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The man behind the experiment said that ChatGPT produced an "alien-looking creature," after the chatbot was told to create beauty.

An artificial-intelligence experiment involving ChatGPT has captured the attention of social-media users after producing increasingly strange and alien-like images in response to prompts for "more beautiful" faces.

The experiment, shared by TikTok creator @wizawoza in more depth on October 29, showed viewers on the platform what happens when artificial intelligence is tasked with interpreting human beauty standards. An earlier post that skims over the man's experiment was shared to TikTok on October 24, and has amassed almost 20 million views and more than 10,500 comments to date.

Viewers were able to see a series of AI-generated female faces, starting with a conventional representation of modern beauty. As the prompts intensified, asking ChatGPT to create faces that were "more beautiful," the images morphed into exaggerated, almost cartoonish figures. Features such as lips and eyes ballooned to unnatural proportions, and skin textures became metallic and surreal.

"I just told ChatGPT to give me a beautiful face and keep asking to make it more beautiful," the 30-something British man, who prefers to remain anonymous, told Newsweek. "By the end, we have some alien-looking creature, which ChatGPT confirms is not as beautiful as the first one.

From left: The result of ChatGPT being commanded to produce a conventionally beautiful face; and after being asked multiple times to generate an "even more beautiful" face. Credit: @WIZWOZA

"I think the viral success of the posts go to show how TikTok's algorithm is geared toward rewarding content that brings out an emotional response deep within us rather than just a cheap laugh or surface-level intrigue."

The video resonated with TikTok users, sparking discussions about AI's interpretation of beauty and the potential biases embedded in its algorithms.

"Wonderful but creepy how AI works," one viewer wrote.

Another added: "The last part came off as trying to keep beauty even when getting older and death."

Some viewers noted that the AI's initial image defaulted to a white woman, prompting accusations of racial bias.

"A lot of TikTok users pointed out that ChatGPT immediately gave me someone white for the initial photo," the man, who is based in London, England, said. "I understand they believe the AI is being racist, and I can see their point."

He had started "playing around" with ChatGPT in his free time, and thought it would be amusing to share his discoveries online.

"The video shows how users—and perhaps all of us—think a lot about beauty standards and question what is the generally agreed goal of beauty," the poster said. "But, in the end, we all somewhat agree that there is a limit to how far you can push beautifying before you were better off before you started.

"The whole message is kind of simultaneously absurd and profound," the man added.

The post had been captioned: "AI: More Beauty. Video transition of a series of ChatGPT images created by prompting for an ever more beautiful/attractive face."

"In this video, I push the limits of AI-generated beauty, starting with a basic image and asking ChatGPT to exaggerate the woman's facial features over and over," the man had said in his first post about the experiment. "From subtle enhancements to the most extreme, robotic-like beauty imaginable, you'll witness a transformation that's surreal, futuristic, and absolutely mind-blowing."

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