The "AI Prank Trend" on TikTok has everyone laughing, and now it's your turn to join the fun! People are using AI to create hilarious and realistic photoshopped images of their bosses, friends, or partners in unexpected situations, all to prank their loved ones.
What is AI Prank Trend?
The latest viral sensation on TikTok is the "AI Prank." This trend involves users taking a picture of an empty space or room and then using AI image generation to "build" someone into it.
The goal is to send these surprisingly realistic images to friends or family to gauge their reactions to the bizarre and often funny scenarios created by the AI. It's all about making people do a double-take!
Common AI Prank Ideas
- AI Shirtless Plumber Prank – Add a shirtless plumber fixing something in your home for a hilarious surprise.
- AI Boyfriend in the Bathroom – Make it look like your partner is casually standing or showering in your bathroom.
- AI Boss at Home – Insert your boss into your living room or kitchen to create awkwardly funny “caught off work” moments.
- AI Stranger Prank – Add a random person lurking or sitting behind you in a normal selfie.
- AI Celebrity Visit – Generate an image showing a famous actor or singer casually hanging out in your house
How to Recreate the AI Prank Trend?
Download YouCam Perfect
First things first, get the app! You can download YouCam Perfect from the App Store or Google Play Store.
Find the "Editing Agent" Feature
Open the YouCam Perfect app and look for the "Editing Agent" feature in the homepage.
Once you're in, upload a picture that you want to use as your base. This could be your living room, your office, a scenic outdoor shot, or even just a doorway. The key is to use a photo of an empty space where you want to "build" someone in.
And then upload another photo of the person you want to "add" into the picture. Make sure to use a clear photo. Preferrably a whole-body picture, and can clearly see his/her face in the photo.
Enter Your Prompt
Now for the fun part – telling the AI what to add! This is where your creativity comes in. The key is to be descriptive to make the image look as realistic and funny as possible.
- "Add the boss into the picture, sitting casually on the armchair, drinking coffee and looking at the camera." (Imagine their reaction when they see their boss in their living room!)
- "Place a photorealistic image of this person standing by the window, looking out with a thoughtful expression." (Perfect for a subtle, believable prank.)
- "Insert a famous celebrity like Taylor Swift peeking from behind the curtains with a mischievous smile." (Who wouldn't be surprised to see a star in their home?)
- "Add this cat into the photo. It's wearing sunglasses lounging on the kitchen counter, looking annoyed." (Because sometimes, the absurd is the most hilarious.)
- "Add this medieval knight in full armor standing in the hallway, holding a tiny puppy." (Completely unexpected and sure to get a laugh!)
Tip: Always add a prompt "Adjust the lighting and contrast when adding this person in the photo. So the overall result will look natural".
Make Your Pictures Move with "Image to Video"
Once you've created your hilarious AI prank image, why stop there? YouCam Perfect's "Image to Video" feature allows you to animate your pictures, adding an extra layer of surprise and engagement to your prank.
Imagine your photoshopped character subtly moving or reacting – it takes the trend to a whole new level for pranking your family and friends!
Tips: How to Make the Picture More Realistic?
If you are not satisfied with what you are seeing after the first generation, can try to add more descriptions. For instance:
- Adjust Positioning: Specify exactly where you want the person or object to be. For instance, instead of just "add a person," try: "Place this person on the sofa, a bit far from the camera."
- Control Lighting and Contrast: To ensure the added element blends seamlessly, ask the AI to adjust these aspects. You can prompt: "Adjust the contrast and lighting so the person added to the photo looks natural."
- Define Interaction: Describe how the subject should interact with the camera or their surroundings. If you want a natural, candid shot, try an instruction like: "The person should look away from the camera and be swiping on their phone."
These details can help your AI-generated photo come out more naturally! Give them a try.
Bonus Point: Shirtless Plumber AI Prank
What Is Shirtless Plumber AI Prank
The AI Shirtless Plumber Prank is a viral trend where people use AI image generators to insert a realistic shirtless plumber into ordinary photos, creating funny and unexpected scenes—like a plumber casually appearing in someone’s bedroom or kitchen.
The prank is usually shared with partners or friends for laughs. It started as a small joke but quickly evolved into a popular meme trend on TikTok and Instagram, with users competing to make the most hilarious edits.
How to Do the AI Plumber Prank
Ready to join the viral AI Shirtless Plumber prank trend?
You can easily recreate your own hilarious and realistic version using YouCam Perfect’s Editing Agent feature. This powerful AI tool lets you generate lifelike scenes directly from text prompts—no Photoshop skills needed!
Here’s how to do it:
- Download YouCam Perfect and use the Editing Agent feature
- Upload Your Shirtless Plumber Photo
- Enter Your Prompt: "Generate A hyper-realistic vertical 9:16 photo of a handyman seen from behind, wearing a fitted sleeveless undershirt and durable beige work pants, fixing a modern kitchen oven in a warmly lit apartment. The scene captures natural posture, detailed muscles under the fabric, and realistic indoor lighting with soft reflections on the floor and oven surface. The kitchen features wood or matte finishes, potted plants, and tidy countertops. A woman wearing a dark hoodie (from the last reference photo) is casually present in the background, as if observing or walking by, similar to how she appears naturally in a candid moment. The overall mood is cinematic, realistic, high-resolution, with authentic human proportions and natural light. No text, no watermark."
- Save and Share!

Is "AI Prank" Considered OK?
The "AI Prank" trend, like many forms of humor and social media trends, can be considered "ok" depending on a few key factors:
Generally Acceptable When:
- It's Clearly a Prank: The recipient understands it's a joke and not a real situation. The humor comes from the absurdity and the AI's ability to create a convincing (but fake) image.
- No Malicious Intent: The prank is intended to be lighthearted and fun, not to cause genuine distress, embarrassment, or harm.
- You Know Your Audience: You're pranking friends or family members who you know will appreciate the humor and won't be genuinely upset or offended. They should have a good sense of humor and understand your relationship.
- It's Not Deeply Personal or Sensitive: The content of the prank avoids sensitive topics, personal insecurities, or situations that could genuinely cause anxiety or fear for the recipient.
Potentially Not Okay When:
- It Causes Genuine Distress or Fear: If the prank is so convincing or the scenario so alarming that it genuinely frightens, upsets, or causes anxiety for the recipient.
- It Involves Private or Sensitive Information: Using images in a way that infringes on privacy, creates false accusations, or depicts someone in a compromising or inappropriate (even if fake) situation.
- It Targets Strangers or Public Figures Negatively: While some people prank celebrities, doing so with malicious intent or creating images that are defamatory or harmful is not okay. Pranking strangers without their consent or knowledge in a potentially embarrassing way can also be problematic.
- It Harasses or Bullies: If the prank is used as a tool for harassment, bullying, or to deliberately make someone feel bad.
- It's Misleading and Not Disclosed: If the intent is to genuinely trick someone into believing a falsehood that could have real-world consequences, and the prank isn't quickly revealed.
Fianl Thoughts
If you loved this trend, you’ll also enjoy the equally funny AI Plumber Prank — another viral favorite that shows just how realistic and entertaining AI-generated images can be.
The AI Prank Trend shows just how creative and fun AI image generation can be. With YouCam Perfect, it’s easier than ever to jump on viral trends, experiment with photorealistic edits, and create hilarious scenarios that will have your friends doing a double-take.
So, what are you waiting for? Download YouCam Perfect, start your next AI prank, and get ready to see who falls for it first!
About the Editors
The PERFECT Corp. Editorial Team
We are a team of experts on photo and video editing apps. Our goal is to deliver engaging content on everything from stunning selfie edits to eye-catching video effects. We cover the latest trends and share niche tips to help you master digital creation.
AI Prank FAQs
What are the trending "AI Prank Filters" on TikTok?
Here we collected several viral "AI Prank Filters" we've seen on TikTok so far:
- AI Homeless Man Prank
- Prank Your Co-worker
- AI Baliff Trend
- AI Builder Prank
You can basically generate all these photos following the same logic we mentioned above. Use "Editing Agent" allows you to easily generate these photos, and then animate them to evelate your prank!
What app can I use to recreate the "AI Prank" trend?
Most people go to ChatGPT and Gemini to generate these AI Prank photos, and the results are quite convincing already.
Other third-party apps like YouCam Perfect allows you to generate AI photos and then animate them. Another option you can try if you used up the quotas on ChatGPT and Gemini.
Is the AI Prank Trend safe or ethical?
Yes — when done responsibly. Keep your pranks fun, lighthearted, and respectful. Avoid using someone’s image in a harmful, misleading, or sensitive way.
Always consider your audience and make sure the person being pranked won’t be offended or upset.
Can I turn my AI prank photo into a video?
Absolutely!
With YouCam Perfect’s “Image to Video” feature, you can animate your prank photo — making the added person or object move slightly for extra realism and surprise. It’s a great way to take your AI prank to the next level on TikTok or Instagram.