BUZZ BEAT MEDIA

Are you also one of those currently captivated by “Artificial Intelligence (AI)-inspired photos” versions of yourself? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Even local celebrities have become absolutely obsessed with it!

The “AI yearbook” craze swept through social media, as numerous local celebrities enthusiastically joined in to reveal and showcase their ’90s-inspired AI-generated selves.

Although these artificial intelligence-generated photos are undeniably humorous, some celebrities have demonstrated that they possess innate star qualities, which require no advanced technology to shine right from the start.

Much like the K-idol filter, this social media trend also originated from the same photo application, Epik, which harnesses the power of artificial intelligence for seamless photo editing. 

In this specific trend, the mobile app effortlessly turns your everyday photos into nostalgic yearbook-style works of art, eliminating the necessity for a professional photoshoot. 

It imparts a vintage touch, encompassing everything from makeup and hairstyles to various elements such as attire, frames, facial expressions, and more.

Furthermore, the AI app includes functionalities that not only enhance your skin by eliminating imperfections but also enable you to eliminate unwanted sections from your photos, allowing for the isolation of individuals, objects, and animals.

To access this service, you must install the EPIK mobile app for photo editing. Next, you upload a set of eight to 12 photos, and the app will generate 40 distinctive retro images of you portraying various high school archetypes, such as the nerd, preppy, and sporty styles, among others. There’s a one-time payment of ₱199 for this service, and you’ll receive the photos within 24 hours. For a quicker turnaround, there’s an option available for ₱299, which delivers the photos in just two hours. It’s important to note that the generated photos are randomly selected, so you won’t be able to choose your preferred templates.

Celebrities who have joined the bandwagon are Alex Gonzaga, Megan Young, Mikael Daez, Elle Villanueva, Derrick Monasterio, Maxine Medina, Kryz Uy, Yassi Pressman, Beatrice Luigi Gomez, Rhian Ramos, Sam Pinto, Bretman Rock, Sarah Lahbati, Sofia Andres, Kylie Verzosa, Sandara Park, Mavy Legaspi, Kate Valdez, and Angelica Panganiban. 

On the other hand, some celebrities have also proven that they don’t need an AI-generated app to flaunt their yearbook and graduation photos from their younger years. As an example, Kapuso Primetime King-TV host Dingdong Dantes participated in this trend by sharing his rendition of a “yearbook gone wrong.” 

He posted a photo from his high school graduation at Ateneo De Manila University, which is where he also attended grade school in an all-boys setting. The actor captioned, “Ai, mali. #AI90sYearbookGoneWrong. (Paano ba tong Al na ‘to? Help…)”

On the other hand, Luis poked fun at his younger self, humorously describing how he resembled a “pusit” (squid) in his Grade 7 graduation photo due to his frizzy hair and a “bombilya” (lightbulb) appearance from his high school days when he sported a buzz cut. This “It’s Your Lucky Day” star attended Colegio de San Agustin for his high school era. 

Kapuso actress and beauty queen Bianca Manalo shared her authentic high school photo along with Senator Sherwin Gatchalian’s college graduation picture, inquiring about the recent AI high school photo trend. 

She captioned the post, saying, “What’s all the buzz about the AI high school pics? Here, I’m sharing my high school photo and Sherwin’s college picture.”

Another Kapuso star Dennis Trillo and award-winning Kapuso journalist Atom Araullo proved that they don’t require AI to showcase their star appeal. 

Even though their grade school yearbook pictures were previously posted on X (formerly Twitter) by Joey De Leon’s son, Jako (@jakodeleon), some time ago, these charming photos are too irresistible not to feature on the list!

Photo from Instagram of Alex Gonzaga, Derrick Monasterio, and Angelica Panganiban

What do you think of this AI thing craze?

*Cover Photo/Thumbnail Photo from Instagram/Sandara Park, Angelica Panganiban, and Derrick Monasterio