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Ever wonder how you will look as you age? This is me in my 40s, 50s and 60s, according to ChatGPT

I asked ChatGPT to predict my future appearance through AI-generated images, and the results were surprisingly believable.

Me in my 30s and 60s. (Express Photo)

I was quite overwhelmed by ChatGPT’s ability to produce Ghibli-styled portraits that has taken over social media in recent weeks, and I wanted to try something unique to test the ability of OpenAI’s new image generator. That’s when I considered looking into the basics of generative AI—which is essentially the ability to predict—and I wanted ChatGPT to predict my future. Not in terms of astrology, but how I might look in the future when I become older and wiser.

Also read | 8 free Ghibli-style AI image editors you can use online right now

Despite being aware of how OpenAI might store personal data, I wanted to see if ChatGPT could predict the future—specifically, how I would age. I recently turned 30, and I was curious to see how I might look in my 40s, 50s, and 60s. I must say, I’m quite impressed with GPT-4o’s predictive capabilities.

Upload a photo and ChatGPT does the rest

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I truly value the abilities of generative AI models and how they can generate answers or solutions to the most complex human queries. They can predict the digit after the 20th decimal, solve intricate mathematical equations, and now, even offer a glimpse into how we might look as we age. When I asked ChatGPT to predict my future appearance, I was genuinely fascinated by the output.

My forties: some grey hair

Me in my 40s, according to ChatGPT. (Express Photo)

Now that I’ve turned 30, I’ve already started noticing a few grey strands. ChatGPT’s prediction of how I’ll look in my 40s makes perfect sense: more grey hair than ever. I could definitely see the resemblance and found the picture believable as a version of myself a decade from now.

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My fifties: more greyness, some wrinkles

Me in my 50s, according to ChatGPT. (Express Photo)

In my 50s, I look older but wiser, at least in ChatGPT’s eyes. Honestly, I like this version of myself. I’m also happy to report that I still have a full head of hair! My friends might even be a little envious, haha. All in all, it looks like I will age gracefully if we go by ChatGPT.

My sixties: transforming into Einstein

Me in my 60s, according to ChatGPT. (Express Photo)

Now this one took me by surprise. According to ChatGPT, in my 60s, I start looking fairer—so much so that one of my friends said I’m turning into Albert Einstein. Hopefully, they meant that in terms of intellect! That said, this version did feel a bit unrealistic as it made me look more like a westerner than myself.

Of course, there is no genuine way to verify whether these predictions are accurate—only time will tell.

How to generate images of your future self

With the updated ChatGPT, all you need to do is upload a photo and ask it to generate a future version of yourself using simple text prompts like “How will I look when I turn 40?” OpenAI has recently opened up its image generator to free users as well. This means anyone can generate future versions of themselves for free. The catch? You will have to wait and see if the predictions actually come true.

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There have been services like this before, both standalone ones and built-in features on apps like Facebook and Snapchat, where you could turn yourself into a cartoon or an in-game character. What sets GPT-4o apart is its realistic-looking output. Especially with features like the Ghibli-style transformation, people are now uploading their own photos to GPT to create these stylised versions of themselves.

While most know it’s probably not a good practice to upload your photo into an AI chatbot — not just in terms of privacy, but also because your facial data could potentially be stored, reused, or even misused down the line.