You get what you give with AI. Just like writing a good brief, prompt writing is quickly becoming the next essential digital skill.
The latest trend sweeping social media is the AI Barbie trend, where users are transforming themselves into hyper-realistic Barbie or Ken-style action figures using ChatGPT and AI image generation tools. By combining an image of themselves with a well-crafted prompt, they’re producing jaw-dropping results that blur the line between digital art and self-expression.
The AI Barbie trend explained
Fuelled by TikTok and Instagram, the AI Barbie trend has exploded online, with creators posting their AI-generated Barbie selves inside iconic toy packaging. On Instagram, the trend has completely taken over, with more than 173k posts with the hashtag #BarbieChallenge, and 71k posts tagged #BarbieTrend.
Social media users are asking for the exact prompts in the comments, while others are sharing video tutorials and prompts in captions (as shown on the right).
The AI Barbie trend is the first mass social media event, where people are sharing prompts to improve their experience with generative AI.
The power of a well-written prompt
While image generation tools like Midjourney and ChatGPT are doing the heavy lifting, they’re only as good as the instructions they’re given. As the Barbie AI trend shows, crafting the right prompt can mean the difference between a plastic-fantastic masterpiece and something that looks like it escaped from the uncanny valley.
What makes a good prompt?
A good prompt is clear, detailed, specific and context rich. Think of it like briefing a designer, the better your brief, the better the outcome. The more detail you give the AI, the better the results. Include style references, tone, colours, setting, and the vibe you’re going for. Instead of saying “make me a Barbie,” try the prompt we used and sourced through social media:
“Create a realistic action figure (Barbie doll) of the person in this photo. The doll should be full figure and displayed in its original clear plastic box packaging. In the packaging, next to the figure are the toy’s accessories including [list items]. At the top of the box is the name of the toy [Your name].“
Our team members Tirtho, Elisa and Emily transformed into Barbie and Ken dolls, using the above prompt.
Prompt libraries & sharing
As prompt writing gains traction, prompt libraries are popping up everywhere. These are digital repositories where people can find, tweak, and contribute to a growing collection of instructions tailored for everything from branding content to AI-generated headshots. Usually when prompt-sharing, you would visit a prompt library like PromptHero, PromptBase or FlowGPT. However, the Barbie trend has seen social media users ask creators what prompt they used. For the first time with social media, we’re seeing users share prompts in social media platforms, to improve how they interact with generative AI. It’s creative, collaborative and surprisingly technical!
Want to experiment with prompts and generative AI? Try these for fun:
- Turn yourself into a Star Wars character – give yourself a Jedi robe and lightsaber.
- Imagine yourself as a Marvel superhero with a custom suit and powers based on your personality.
- Reimagine yourself as a fantasy RPG character – think elves, potions, and mystical forests.
- Visualise your dream CEO persona in 2035 – futuristic suit, techy skyline, AI assistant by your side.
What does the AI Barbie trend reveal about the future of generative AI?
Every Barbie-style image, every carefully crafted prompt, every upload — it’s all feeding into the larger evolution of AI. When millions of people generate images using tools like ChatGPT, Adobe Firefly, Midjourney, or other generative models, they’re not just creating content, they’re training AI. Each interaction becomes part of a broader learning ecosystem. The AI is continuously evolving, becoming sharper, more nuanced and more aligned with how humans think, create and express.
As more users experiment, share prompts and refine their approach, we’re witnessing the rise of a new kind of expertise: individuals who deeply understand how to “speak AI,” how to guide it, correct it and push it creatively. The Barbie trend is unexpectedly becoming a crash course in generative AI by teaching users how to interact effectively with AI and refine their prompts to get better, more creative results.
As part of the trend, our marketing team used ChatGPT to create AI-generated dolls inspired by Aussie small business owners for a social media post for Little Big Shop. In the process, ChatGPT asked which version we preferred, which explicitly shows how the trend helps train AI. Every prompt and image helps refine the model, teaching it what looks accurate, creative and human.
Even when ChatGPT doesn’t explicitly ask for feedback, generative AI is still being trained and learning. Each prompt, image uploaded and result provides valuable data that helps the model learn what works and how to better match human intent.
Ultimately, prompt writing isn’t just a party trick, it’s a powerful new skill rooted in context, tone and intention. And like any skill, it only gets better with practice. At Conn3cted, we’re committed to staying ahead of the curve, which is why we run internal AI prompt sessions to help our creative team explore and master generative AI. The AI Barbie trend is a stepping stone for deeper learning amongst both generative AI and it’s users, and encourages experimentation, creativity and digital fluency. Are you ready to level up your prompt game?