The viral 80s AI trend comes with a price
The viral 80s-themed AI photo trend is raising significant concerns regarding user privacy and data security. Experts warn that uploading personal selfies to these platforms exposes biometric data that could be used to train facial recognition models or facilitate deepfake scams.
Why it matters
As generative AI becomes ubiquitous, users are unknowingly trading sensitive biometric data for social media engagement, creating long-term risks for identity theft and unauthorized surveillance.
Have you already generated an image of how you’d have been in the 1980s? Did it help garner likes and comments? Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) does just that; it makes us feel good like a high sodium content in your favourite snack. But it comes with its own risks.
The viral 80s AI trend is now a social media craze where users, for the fear of missing out, use generative AI chatbots to reimagine their modern selfies as retro portraits. While cyber security researchers scramble to warn the public about digital safety, Indian politicians are also actively normalising the 80s trend. The long list includes Union Ministers Piyush Goyal, Kiren Rijiju, Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Congress leader Renuka Chowdhury shared a real 1980s magazine cover of herself. Sportstars too joined in — from former cricketer Irfan Pathan to chess Grandmaster Praggnanandhaa.
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