For years, online quizzes have quietly harvested personal information from social media users. The classic “What’s your royal name?” or “Your rockstar name is your first pet plus your favourite food” might seem like harmless fun, but they often reveal answers to common security questions.
Now, the trend has evolved.
Instead of just answering questions, many viral posts are asking people to upload photos to generate AI versions of themselves. With a few clicks, a simple selfie can be transformed into a movie character, a fantasy warrior, a cartoon avatar, or even a polished “AI professional headshot.”
The results can look impressive. Sometimes they’re funny and sometimes they’re genuinely good enough to use for your LinkedIn profile pictures.
But behind the novelty, there’s an important question worth asking: what happens to your photo once you upload it?
Your Face Is Data
When you upload a selfie to an AI image generator, you are often giving that platform permission to analyse the image in detail. That can include mapping facial features, recognising patterns, and storing that data in ways most users wouldn’t expect
Depending on the platform’s terms and conditions, your image may be used to train artificial intelligence systems, build biometric profiles, or stored on servers in countries with completely different privacy laws.
Some services even ask users to upload multiple photos to “improve results.” While that may produce a more accurate AI version of you, it also creates a clearer digital model of your face.
Unlike a password or email address, your face is permanent. If that data ends up in the wrong place, you can’t simply change it.
How to Use AI Tools More Safely
- Review the platform’s privacy policy before sharing your data
- Avoid uploading high-resolution or clearly identifiable photos
- Consider using a secondary email address rather than your primary account
- Check whether the company complies with recognised data protection laws
A New Age of Cybercrime
What began as playful AI-generated art is increasingly being exploited for scams, identity theft and misinformation.
The same technology that can transform a selfie into a fantasy portrait can also be used to generate convincing fake images, impersonate people online or create digital identities that are difficult to detect.
Cybercriminals are constantly looking for new sources of data to fuel these schemes. Facial images, personal details and online profiles can all become valuable pieces of information when combined.
A Moment of Pause Before You Upload
None of this means every AI image generator is dangerous. Many reputable platforms use strong security practices and clearly explain how user data is handled.
But the same rule that applied to those viral Facebook quizzes still applies today: if a random website or social media post is asking for personal information, photos or access to your account, it is worth asking what they are collecting in return.
Before uploading your selfie to see what you would look like as an “AI Viking warrior” or “cyberpunk detective,” take a moment to check who is behind the tool and what happens to your data afterwards.
Because in today’s digital world, even something as simple as a selfie can reveal more than you might expect.