A new social media trend has emerged in Finland where users are sharing caricatures of themselves created by ChatGPT. However, Finnish cybersecurity expert Petteri Järvinen has criticized this trend, calling it silly. He points out that while it may be entertaining for individuals to create their own caricatures, the widespread participation reflects how easily people can be influenced to follow the crowd, minimizing individual thought and encouraging mass conformity.

Järvinen highlights the environmental concerns associated with the artificial intelligence involved in creating these images. He notes that generating AI images demands significant computational power, which translates to electricity consumption—resources that could be better utilized elsewhere. For instance, he mentions a study by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) indicating that generating just ten images requires a total of 2.9 kilowatt-hours of electricity, enough to run a microwave for approximately 3.5 hours or power an electric bike for about 62 kilometers (100 miles).

In light of these factors, Järvinen's stance encourages a deeper reflection on the implications of seemingly harmless social media trends, urging users to consider not only the social impact but also the environmental cost of their online activities. This perspective challenges the value of participating in trends that may contribute to digital pollution and draw resources away from more constructive uses, suggesting a need for greater awareness among social media users regarding the repercussions of their choices.