I thought ChatGPT’s new Stickers feature sounded like peak AI slop — then I made a pack I actually wanted to use

I initially viewed ChatGPT's new Stickers feature with skepticism, considering it to be typical AI excess. However, after creating a personalized pack of stickers, I found myself genuinely interested in using them. The allure of importing these results into iMessage and WhatsApp, allowing for more meaningful conversations, piqued my curiosity.

I chose an image of my chihuahua and requested a few sticker variations based on her likeness. To my surprise, the generated stickers resembled images I wouldn't be embarrassed to share with others.

To access ChatGPT's Stickers tool, navigate to the platform's Image section within the ChatGPT mobile app, and select the Stickers option, currently the first on the extensive list of templates. The platform provides a ready-to-use prompt, but you can adjust it to fit your desired style or incorporate different emojis into the design.

The source photograph plays a crucial role in the outcome; choose an image where the subject is clearly separated from the background, with good lighting on the face and all important features visible. A poorly chosen background, such as a dark dog against a dark couch, may not yield satisfactory results.

When crafting prompts, ensure you mention any details you want emphasized. Initially, I experimented with "photographic" stickers to assess the tool's consistency. While not flawless, the best stickers retained the distinguishing features of my dog, preserving her expressions and overall appearance. Even when creating new prompts, ChatGPT managed to keep my dog looking like her, albeit with exaggerated features.

After testing the more cartoonish options, I found the chibi-style stickers to be amusing in their own way, albeit with some loosened resemblance to the original dog, particularly in terms of coloring and age. However, the emotional range improved, making the feature more flexible. By specifying an illustration style and listing any particular reactions or emotions, ChatGPT could generate stickers that remained consistent, even when they transformed the dog into a whimsical, sunglasses-wearing version.

Although AI-generated content remains problematic in many areas, its potential for personalized, fun interactions in online chat is evident.