The cartoons generated with ChatGPT They've seeped into the daily lives of social media users, becoming one of the most striking trends of the moment. Instagram, X, and TikTok profiles are filled with drawings in which each person appears as an animated character, surrounded by symbols of their work, hobbies, or lifestyle.
This fever mixes curiosity about artificial intelligence and a desire for different visual content for profiles and biographies. Many users in Spain and other European countries are asking ChatGPT to create an illustration based on everything the AI knows about them, and the result is highly recognizable caricatures that are shared in a matter of seconds.
How to create cartoons with ChatGPT step by step
The mechanics are simple, but no less sophisticated for it. The starting point is usually a message like this: “Create a caricature of me and my work based on everything you know about me”From there, the model uses the conversation history with the user to reconstruct their digital profile: profession, topics they usually discuss, interests, writing tone, and even details they have mentioned about their daily life.
When history is scarce or the account is new, users resort to a more direct approach: they provide ChatGPT with a detailed description about who they are and how they want to appear. They usually include information about physical features, type of clothing they wear, hobbies, pets, the setting they want to be in, and preferred drawing style (more realistic, comic, cartoon, editorial style, etc.).
In cases, the AI requests or accepts that it be attached a close-up photograph to refine the likeness. Although this step is optional, it makes all the difference in the portrait's fidelity: a sharp, well-lit image with the face centered makes it easier for the system to accurately detect eyes, nose, mouth, and other features.
From that combination of text and image, ChatGPT (usually working alongside a specific image generation model) builds a cartoon illustration: head slightly larger than the body, exaggerated gestures and an environment full of elements that refer to the user's work or hobbies, from computers and cameras to bikes, books or musical instruments.
Those who want to fine-tune the result add very specific instructions to the message: what facial expression they prefer, whether they want a European comic book style or Japanese animation, what colors predominate, whether they want a simplified background or a more complex scene, and what objects must appear so that the caricature "sounds like" them.
A trend that's sweeping social media and personal branding
The pull of these AI-powered cartoons This becomes clearer when you look at how social media has changed in recent years. In an environment dominated by short videos and eye-catching images, having a portrait that is recognizable but different from a conventional photo has become a plus for standing out.
In Spain there are already many examples of users who use their caricature as Instagram profile pictureLinkedIn or X• as a thumbnail for YouTube videos or as a graphic resource for newsletters and blogs. Tech professionals, content creators, journalists, and freelancers use it as a quick way to convey, at a glance, what they do and what defines them.
The phenomenon isn't limited to the personal sphere. Some small European businesses and local projects have started commissioning caricatures of their teams for use on "About Us" pages, email signatures, or digital signage. The combination of humor, approachability, and a professional touch It works well to humanize brands that might otherwise go unnoticed.
The barrier to entry is low: usually, all it takes is writing a short prompt, uploading a photo, and waiting a few seconds for the result. No drawing skills or advanced technical knowledge are required, which explains why so many people have joined the phenomenon almost overnight.
Compared to generic filters that apply the same effect to all images, these cartoons stand out because each result is differentNot only does the face change, but also the background, the objects, and the overall composition, adapted to what each person says about themselves.
From Ghibli style to hyper-personalized cartoon
This isn't the first time an AI-generated image trend has gone viral in Europe. Recently, social media was flooded with photos transformed by AI. Studio Ghibli styleWith soft colors, dreamlike landscapes, and an aesthetic inspired by films like "My Neighbor Totoro" or "Spirited Away," thousands of users transformed their selfies and everyday scenes into Japanese animation.
That phenomenon already demonstrated that there was a massive interest in reinterpreting one's own image with the help of algorithmsHowever, the current wave of cartoons goes a step further in personalization: it not only changes the graphic style, but also turns the user's biography into a kind of tailor-made "visual story".
While Ghibli filters applied a more or less uniform aesthetic to any photo, cartoons using ChatGPT incorporate data about profession, habits and personalityThe result is less a simple filter and more a portrait where every object and every gesture has a reason for being.
This evolution also reflects the technical advancement of multimodal AI models, capable of process text and image simultaneously and to understand complex instructions regarding style, composition, and elements that should appear in the scene. The user no longer simply uploads a photo: they give directions, try variations, and correct details until the cartoon matches what they want to show.
All of this has led to this trend of caricatures being perceived, for many, as an accessible form of digital creativity: a space to experiment with one's own identity without needing to handle traditional design or illustration programs.
Privacy and data: what's behind the trendy cartoon
Along with the enthusiasm, warnings have also arrived. Cybersecurity and privacy experts in Europe They emphasize that these images contain more information than they appear at first glance. A single illustration can encompass highly recognizable physical features, clues about the professional sector, references to hobbies, and even details about the environment in which the person lives or works.
That combination of data, cross-referenced with what the user already publishes on social media, makes it easier to reconstruct a fairly complete personal profile Even if the full name, address, or phone number is not included, this is the type of material that can be exploited in phishing attacks, social engineering attempts, or online harassment campaigns.
Furthermore, many of these portraits stem from a real photo uploaded to the platformThis adds an extra layer of sensitivity. A photograph can reveal approximate age, perceived gender, ethnic features, and other elements that, in the hands of malicious third parties, could be used to reinforce stereotypes or target highly specific deception campaigns.
Experts remind us that the risk extends beyond what is visible to the naked eye. Digital images can include hidden metadata These files record, among other things, the approximate location where the photo was taken, the date and time it was captured, and the model of mobile phone or camera used. If this data is not deleted before uploading the image, it travels along with it.
This problem was already raised during the Ghibli-style photo craze and has resurfaced with the ChatGPT cartoons. If an image containing metadata falls into the wrong hands or is leaked outside the environment in which it was created, that technical information can serve as an additional clue to locate the person or track their habits.
What does OpenAI do with the text and images you upload?
Another major question revolves around How does OpenAI manage the content that users submit? to generate these cartoons. According to the information available in their privacy policies, the texts, images, and files shared with ChatGPT may be temporarily stored and used to improve the models and services.
The company states that the data is not kept indefinitely, but does not specify exactly how. how long do they remain on your servers nor what path they follow once used in training processes or statistical analysis. In practice, this leaves some uncertainty about the medium-term use of the information.
Furthermore, OpenAI reserves the right to use this data to develop new features or products, always within the applicable legal and regulatory framework in each region. In Europe, this intersects with data protection regulations (such as the GDPR), which require extreme care in the processing of personally identifiable information.
The risk becomes especially delicate when the images appear minors or people in vulnerable situationsA hypothetical security breach, misconfiguration, or misuse by third parties could expose portraits and metadata that could then be exploited for fraud, identity theft, or harassment.
For all these reasons, several specialists recommend that European users be realistic about the exchange they are making: if a tool is free or very cheap, The cost is usually paid with personal dataeven when the apparent use is as innocent as getting a cute avatar for social media.
How to reduce risks if you want your cartoon with ChatGPT
Despite the warnings, many users will still want their cartoon; the key is in minimize data footprint that is left out in the process. Experts recommend, first of all, assessing whether it is really necessary to upload a real photograph or if a generic description of physical appearance can suffice.
If you decide to send a photo, it's advisable to use tools that Remove EXIF metadata before sharing it with AI. There are free apps and utilities that allow you to remove location, date, or device information, so the image travels "lighter" of invisible data.
It is also advised limit the amount of biographical details In the messages: it may not be essential to mention the company name, the exact city where you live, or specific family circumstances. The more information you include, the easier it is to associate the caricature with a specific person.
Another basic recommendation is to calmly review the privacy policies and terms of service before accepting. Although it may be tedious, this is where it is specified how long the data is kept, with whom it is shared, and what rights the user has to request its deletion.
Finally, once you've created the caricature, it's worth thinking twice before uploading it to all your social media accounts. Posting the illustration alongside your full name, job title, and city in your bio increases the chances that others will piece it together and create an overly detailed profile.
the wave of cartoons with ChatGPT It demonstrates the extent to which artificial intelligence has already become integrated into digital entertainment in Spain and the rest of Europe, allowing anyone to have a creative portrait without going to a design studio. At the same time, it raises questions that will continue to be relevant: what we are willing to share with these systems, how these photographs and descriptions are managed, and what precautions should be taken to enjoy fashion without giving away more information than necessary.
