Why ChatGPT is Turning LinkedIn into a Dollhouse

LinkedIn just got flooded by plastic figurines of your favourite marketers and influencers—and yes, it’s exactly as strange as it sounds.

Context: AI Trends, Digital Dolls

A quirky new trend is popping up across LinkedIn and beyond, thanks to ChatGPT’s latest integration with DALL·E 3. Users now effortlessly create digital action-figure versions of themselves—complete with toy packaging, tiny laptops, coffee cups, and the whole professional-kit miniaturized.

On the surface, it’s harmless fun. But dig deeper, and it’s clear there’s more going on beneath the shiny plastic sheen.

What’s New

This digital dollhouse craze took off because generative AI is now ridiculously accessible. With just a simple prompt, anyone can become an “action figure” or “LinkedIn Barbie.”

Previous AI art trends—like Studio Ghibli portraits—had charm, artistic depth, or at least a personal vibe. But critics are quick to point out these new “professional dolls” often feel overly polished, generic, and, well, plastic.

The trend blends nostalgia (think childhood toys) with digital creativity, appealing especially to marketers and “thought leaders.” But beyond these circles, engagement seems lukewarm at best.

Why It Matters

As someone regularly navigating LinkedIn, I couldn’t help but test-drive this trend myself. Sure enough, the avatar I generated looked cool at first glance, but after five minutes it felt strangely hollow—like I had traded genuine self-expression for shiny digital plastic.

This mirrors a broader critique of LinkedIn culture: performative content over genuine connection. Are these dolls playful branding or just another symptom of superficial engagement?

Brands like Mac Cosmetics and NYX have dabbled, but notably absent are the celebrities or cultural icons who typically push trends mainstream.

Unlike previous AI-generated crazes, this one’s notably controversy-free—so far. But is that because it’s genuinely harmless, or because it’s just…forgettable?

My Take

Yes, it’s fun and quirky at first. But LinkedIn was meant for real connections and meaningful branding—not digital dollhouses. The trend, while playful, captures exactly why LinkedIn sometimes feels exhausting. Too much plastic, too little substance.

The real question: how long before we tire of AI-powered professional personas? My bet is—pretty soon.

Next Up…

Now I’m wondering—can generative AI help us get more real, not less? That’s something worth exploring.

Logged at 12:48 a.m. Cold coffee in hand. Signal, not plastic.
—Karan, figuring it out live.