Akansha Singh, Bhopal: A political slugfest between the BJP and Congress has resulted from a social media fad involving AI-generated photos that are stylized to imitate images from the 1980s. Both parties are using AI to subtly make fun of their opponents. Social media users who shared photos that had been altered by ChatGPT to resemble images taken with film cameras in the 1980s started the trend.
Congress Aims With Gujarat-Themed Image
An AI-generated image of a bald man sitting in the front passenger seat of a Maruti Suzuki Omni was shared by the Kerala branch of the Congress party. “A Gujarat street in the 80s” was the caption for the picture. The post sparked a lot of debate on social media, with some commentators seeing it as a political jab at the party’s Gujarati rivals.
BJP responds with Sonia Gandhi reference
The BJP’s response came from its Telangana unit, which posted another AI-generated photograph. The image showed a woman in a red dress dancing on a table inside what appeared to be a bar. The BJP shared the image while reposting the Congress post and described it with the caption, “Louisiana, Italy. Circa-1970s.” The BJP post did not explicitly name Sonia Gandhi, but the location reference and the imagery appeared designed to convey a political message without directly mentioning her.
AI trend becomes political weapon
Nostalgia played a major role in the original 1980s movement. Typically, users asked AI technologies to replicate images with characteristics of the era, such as vibrant apparel, fading backgrounds, film-grain effects, and the look of photos taken with analog cameras. To give the photos a more genuine appearance, date stamps and other details are frequently added.
Additionally, the BJP-Congress debate shows how political messaging is moving beyond traditional banners, films, and altered photos. Political organizations can now more easily participate in rapidly evolving online trends thanks to AI-generated material that can create totally fake situations or replicate a specific era in a matter of seconds.