How to Do the AI Trend on TikTok

You've seen them all over your For You page: stunning, fantasy-style portraits and '90s-era high school yearbook photos of your friends, all generated by AI. This trend isn't just for a select few, it's an accessible way for anyone to create jaw-dropping content that gets views, likes, and shares. This guide will walk you through exactly how to do the AI trend on TikTok, from picking the right apps to creating a viral video step-by-step.

What Exactly Is the AI TikTok Trend?

The "AI trend" isn't just one single trend but a family of viral formats that all use artificial intelligence to transform user-submitted photos into new, stylized images. Users then compile these images into a slideshow video, often set to a trending audio track, revealing the AI-generated results one by one.

Here are a few of the most popular variations you've probably seen:

• The AI Art/Avatar Trend: This was one of the first to explode, powered by apps like Lensa AI. Users upload a handful of selfies and get back dozens of hyper-stylized portraits in various artistic themes, like "Fantasy Princess," "Sci-Fi Warrior," or "Anime Hero."
• The '90s AI Yearbook Trend: A more recent smash hit, this trend uses apps like EPIK to turn your selfies into classic American high school yearbook photos from the 1990s. Think letterman jackets, big hair, and that unmistakable film grain glow. It creates hilarious and surprisingly accurate results.
• The AI Expansion Trend: This format uses generative fill AI to "expand" the background of a famous photo or meme, often with comical or unexpected results. It imagines what's happening just outside the original frame.
• The AI Greenscreen Trend: Using TikTok's own AI greenscreen filter, creators can generate any background they can imagine simply by typing a descriptive prompt. This lets you place yourself anywhere from the surface of Mars to a field of psychedelic mushrooms.

Across all these variations, the core appeal is the same: a magical, high-tech transformation. It allows creators to show a different, fantastical side of themselves, and the big "reveal" of the AI images is a perfect hook for short-form video engagement.

Choosing the Right Apps for the AI Trend

The secret to nailing this trend is using the right third-party app to generate your images before you even open TikTok. Not all AI image generators are the same, and different trends rely on different apps. Here are the top contenders that creators use.

For the AI Yearbook Trend: EPIK - AI Photo Editor

This is the one behind the viral '90s yearbook wave. EPIK makes the process incredibly straightforward. Its "AI Yearbook" feature is designed specifically for this trend. While there's usually a fee for the pack of images ($5-10), the results are so shareable that millions have found it worthwhile. Its specialized focus means you get consistent, high-quality, on-trend results.

For the Classic AI Avatar Trend: Lensa AI

Lensa was one of the original trailblazers with its "Magic Avatars" feature. It's perfect for creating those dramatic, artistic portraits. It offers a wider range of styles than EPIK’s yearbook generator - fantasy, sci-fi, anime, cosmic, and more. If you want variety and a more ethereal look, Lensa is a fantastic choice. Like EPIK, it typically requires a one-time purchase to generate a pack of avatars.

For All-in-One Editing and Effects: CapCut

CapCut, TikTok's sister editing app, is an absolute powerhouse. Not only can you use it to assemble your final video, but it has its own built-in AI features. Its easiest function by far isn't creation but the ability to use AI trend templates. By tapping a link in a TikTok video that says "Try this template," you're taken directly to CapCut where the video's structure, sound, and timing are already set up for you. You just need to drop in your photos.

For Powerful, Free Creation: TikTok's AI Greenscreen

If you don't want to use an external app, you can jump directly into a trend using TikTok’s native filters. The "AI Greenscreen" effect allows you to type a prompt (e.g., "enchanted forest at night") and the app will generate a background image for you instantly. This is great for an on-the-fly, creative approach that doesn't require uploading any selfies.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Make an AI Trend Video

Ready to create your own? Let's break down the process using the super popular '90s AI Yearbook trend as our main example. The steps are easily adaptable for other AI trends, like the one using Lensa.

Part 1: Generating Your AI Yearbook Images

First things first, we need the "magic" content. This happens in the EPIK app.

1. Download the EPIK app: Find "EPIK - AI Photo Editor" on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Download and install it on your phone.
2. Locate the 'AI Yearbook' Feature: Open the app. The AI Yearbook feature is usually advertised right on the home screen. Tap on it to begin.
3. Upload Your Selfies: The app will prompt you to upload between 8-12 photos of yourself. For the best results, follow these tips:
   • Use clear, well-lit photos. Avoid sunglasses, hats, or heavy shadows covering your face.
   • Show a variety of angles and expressions. Look straight ahead, show your profile, smile, look serious. This gives the AI more data to learn your facial features.
   • Use only photos of yourself. Don't upload group shots or pictures with other people.
   • Stick to close-ups. Full-body shots don't give the AI enough detail on your face. Aim for photos from the shoulders up.
4. Generate and Pay: Once your photos are uploaded, select your gender. The app will then take you to a payment screen. There's often a "Standard" option (delivers in 24 hours) and an "Express" option (delivers in under 2 hours). A small fee is usually required here. Once paid, the AI will get to work.
5. Save Your Favorites: When the images are ready, the app will notify you. You'll get around 60 different yearbook-style images! Scroll through them and save all your favorite ones to your phone's camera roll. Pick a good variety - some serious, some goofy, some that look just like you, and some that are completely ridiculous. The mix makes for a more entertaining video.

Part 2: Assembling Your Video for TikTok

Now that you have your AI images, it's time to create the video. The easiest way to do this is with a CapCut template. This handles all the tricky editing and timing for you.

1. Find a Trend Template on TikTok: Open TikTok and search for "AI yearbook." Watch a few videos. You're looking for one with a little button above the creator's username that says "CapCut - Try this template." This is your golden ticket. Tap that button.
2. Open the Template in CapCut: After tapping the button, TikTok will prompt you to open the template in CapCut. Tapping "Use template in CapCut" will switch you over to the app and load the project for you.
3. Add Your Photos: You’ll see a series of empty boxes representing clips in the video. The template will guide you. It will usually require you to add a few of your regular photos first, which sets up the "before." Then, you'll be prompted to fill the remaining slots with your newly generated AI yearbook photos for the "after." Select the clips from your camera roll that you want to use.
4. Preview and Export: Once all the slots are filled, press "Preview." CapCut will automatically edit your photos into a perfect, beat-synced video set to the trending audio. It looks super professional, but you did it in seconds. If you're happy with it, tap "Export."
5. Share Directly to TikTok: A key timesaver is the export screen. Choose the option to "Save and share to TikTok." This not only removes the CapCut watermark for free but also automatically opens up your finished video inside the TikTok app, complete with the trending audio attached.

Tips to Make Your AI Video Go Viral

Making the video is only half the battle. Maximizing its reach requires some strategy too.

Pick the Right Sound and Moment

When you use a CapCut template that's linked from TikTok, you'll automatically be using the correct trending sound. This is essential, the TikTok algorithm prioritizes content that participates in current audio trends. Always check that the official sound is linked to your video before posting.

Craft a Powerful Hook

A good hook is the key to stopping scrollers. You only have a second to grab their attention before they swipe away. Try using onscreen text like:

• "Wait to see my AI Yearbook..."
• "I thought this AI trend was dumb, but..."
• "I can't believe how hilarious these turned out!"

The text builds anticipation for the great AI reveal.

Use Related Hashtags

Tag your video with relevant hashtags so the algorithm knows how to categorize it. For the yearbook trend, use a mix of broad and specific tags:

• General Trend Tags: #ai, #aitrend, #aifilter, #avatar
• Specific Trend Tags: #aiyearbook, #epikapp, #90strend, #aischoolphotos

Write an Engaging Caption

Use your caption to spark a conversation. Ask a question like, "Which one is your favorite?" or state an opinion like, "I can actually see it in the last one!" Encouraging comments is a huge signal to the TikTok algorithm that your content is engaging.

Final Thoughts

Jumping on a hot TikTok trend is an excellent way to create highly shareable content that taps into a massive conversation. By following the steps for generating AI images through apps like EPIK and assembling the video in CapCut, you can quickly and effortlessly create a trend video that's ready for your For You page.

Once you've mastered creating viral content, the next challenge is keeping up with a consistent posting schedule. That's where a tool like Postbase comes in. We built Postbase because we knew the pain of juggling platforms and manually posting content. It streamlines your entire social media workflow by letting you schedule and plan your entire content calendar in one simple, visual place. You can plan ahead and post with confidence, knowing its rock-solid reliability ensures you never miss a trend.