Memes have seemingly existed alongside the birth of the internet, but integrating them with artificial intelligence (AI) is a relatively recent and somewhat unsettling innovation.
Madni Aghadi, a popular content creator on X, decided to breathe life into some well-known memes using a tool called Dream Machine by Luma AI. The company describes this technology on their website as an “AI model that makes high quality, realistic videos fast from text and image.”
The outcomes were nothing short of fascinating.
One of the first memes to get the AI makeover was the ‘Distracted Boyfriend’ meme. Typically, this meme depicts a man glaring at another woman while his girlfriend looks on disapprovingly, often used to express a preference for one thing over another.
Dream Machine by Luma AI is just 3 days old.
Now memes are becoming videos.
10 wild examples:
1. Distracted boyfriendpic.twitter.com/QXNDQdkY4P
— Madni Aghadi (@hey_madni) June 15, 2024
However, when animated, the scene evolves as the boyfriend actively pursues the other woman, leaving the girlfriend visibly upset and turning away.
Following this was the ‘Smiling Disaster Girl’ meme, wherein a young girl grins in front of a house engulfed in flames. This meme could be something out of a horror scene, yet it has been a source of humor online.
In its animated form, firefighters can be seen conversing in the background while the sinister girl remains eerily motionless, her gaze fixed on the camera, adding a chilling layer to the image.
The AI transformation didn’t stop there. Other meme icons like Doge, GigaChad, and ‘Side Eyeing Chloe’ also received the AI treatment. The ‘Facepalm’ meme, famously featuring Patrick Stewart as Captain Picard, morphed into a somewhat different character once animated.
The reaction on X was largely one of shock and dismay. Comments ranged from “Delete this thread” to “Incredibly creepy” and “That is horrible.” Some even expressed fear over the AI’s capabilities with remarks like “Now that’s creepy. It’s learning and becoming self aware.”
Despite the negative feedback, some users were intrigued by the advancements. A supporter marveled at the rapid evolution of AI, saying, “The pace at which AI is evolving is completely mind-blowing. The real fun is yet to come!” Another noted, “Memes are about to get wild,” and one more complimented the lifelike output of Luma’s AI.
While AI may not be on the brink of world domination, it’s certainly making waves and stirring a range of emotions among netizens.