Central Otago mayor Tamah Alley has joined a viral social media trend, creating an AI-generated caricature after seeing local business owners share their own entertaining versions online.

The trend, powered by generative AI image tools, allows users to upload a photo and prompt to produce a stylised, cartoon-like version of themselves.

The resulting images often exaggerate facial features and include props or backgrounds that reflect a person’s interests or personality.

Tamah said she first noticed the trend when her Facebook feed was “flooding” with caricatures.

“Some people had fantastic - and very accurate - depictions,” she said.

It was seeing Alexandra business owners taking part that convinced her to give it a go.

“When I saw the ones from Paper Plus with all the books, I thought it was time to generate my own,” she said.

“It was quite fun waiting to see what ChatGPT would come up with.”

Her verdict on how AI interpreted her photo?

“I think mine is a pretty accurate depiction - my role is awesome, so I’m pleased I look like I’m having a great time,” she said.

“It’s captured Central Otago well, including Lake Dunstan and Leaning Rock, despite the fact we’ve not had as much heat and sun as we would have liked this summer.”

She did, however, question one particular feature.

“The teeth - I feel like I’d have to pay a lot of money to get teeth that white and enormous.”

Alexandra Paper Plus owners Stevie and Sam Robinson also shared their AI caricatures on social media.

“We had a bit of fun with it - the first one we did for me put Stevie’s mole on my face, and it was actually hard to tell which one was who,” Sam said.

AI’s interpretation of backgrounds added to the appeal.

“Mine was taken in my office as I was about to leave, so we love what AI did to the background - messy office hidden,” Sam said.

Sam and Stevie Robinson’s AI caricatures shared on Facebook. Image: Facebook

While the pair were curious about how AI might support some aspects of business, they were clear about its limits.

“It can’t replace the human interaction in our store with our customers,” Sam said.

The online challenge is now being extended to others across the district.

“Alexandra Paper Plus nailed theirs (but the) best yet is still Nat Thurlow with her Thermomox,” Tamah said on her mayoral Facebook page.

“Would love to see other local businesses. Maybe a butcher??? Do we risk it?”

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