TikTok has spawned yet another viral sensation that’s equal parts impressive technology and questionable humor. The AI Homeless Man prank trend has taken over social media feeds, with creators using artificial intelligence to generate hyper-realistic images of homeless individuals in familiar settings, then sending these fabricated photos to unsuspecting friends and family members to capture their shocked reactions.
The trend showcases both the remarkable advancement of accessible AI image generation tools and raises important questions about the ethics of using such powerful technology for pranks. Here’s everything you need to know about this viral phenomenon sweeping across TikTok.
Understanding the AI Homeless Man Prank
The premise is straightforward yet relies on sophisticated AI technology. Creators photograph ordinary locations like their living room, front porch, or workplace, then use AI image generators to insert a realistic-looking homeless person into the scene[1]. The AI-generated images are then sent to family members or friends with messages suggesting a stranger is loitering around their property, designed to elicit surprised or concerned reactions[1].
The prank’s effectiveness hinges on how convincingly modern AI can blend generated elements with real photographs. These tools have become sophisticated enough that recipients often can’t immediately distinguish the fake images from genuine photos, leading to authentic reactions that creators then share on TikTok.
A related variant called the Shirtless Plumber prank follows similar mechanics. In this version, someone creates an AI image of a plumber inside their home and tells their partner that the worker is behaving strangely or has removed their shirt[1]. The absurdity of the scenario combined with the realistic image quality generates reactions that range from confusion to outrage.
How Creators Are Making These Pranks
The technical barrier to entry for this trend is surprisingly low. According to tutorials circulating online, creators primarily use free or low-cost AI tools to generate these images[2]. Popular options include MyEdit, Nano Banana, and Google Gemini, with many offering limited free usage before requiring payment[1][2].
The process typically involves taking a photo of the intended location while being careful to avoid revealing identifying information. Tutorial creators emphasize the importance of not capturing full addresses or other details that could compromise personal safety[2]. Once the base photograph is ready, users upload it to their chosen AI platform along with detailed prompts describing what they want to generate.
For tools like Google Gemini, the process requires maintaining conversation context. Users first generate an image of a homeless person, then in the same chat thread request that the AI place that same person into their location photograph[2]. This continuity ensures visual consistency between the generated elements and makes the final composite more believable.
The AI typically needs some trial and error. When initial generations don’t produce satisfactory results, creators refine their prompts with more specific instructions, such as adjusting the person’s position or pose within the scene[2].
The Ethical Considerations
While these pranks are designed as lighthearted fun, they’ve sparked discussions about appropriate use of AI technology. The trend inherently involves deceiving people, even temporarily, which can cause genuine distress depending on the recipient’s temperament and the context of the prank.
Content creators behind the trend acknowledge these concerns. Guidance accompanying tutorials includes reminders to “avoid scaring or offending your loved ones” and to “keep it playful and considerate”[1]. The emphasis on knowing your audience and understanding their boundaries remains crucial for pranks that leverage such convincing technology.
Beyond individual relationships, the trend also raises broader questions about desensitization to homelessness and whether using someone’s vulnerable circumstances as prank fodder crosses ethical lines. The ease with which AI can now generate realistic images of marginalized individuals for entertainment purposes reflects larger conversations about responsible AI development and deployment.
The Viral Spread and Variations
Like most TikTok trends, the AI Homeless Man prank has spawned numerous variations as creators add their own twists. Some focus on different types of unexpected visitors, while others experiment with various locations or scenarios. The Shirtless Plumber variant demonstrates how the core concept can be adapted to different narratives while maintaining the same shock-value formula.
The trend’s virality stems partly from its shareability. Videos showing genuine reactions to these pranks generate engagement through relatability and surprise. Viewers enjoy both the technological impressiveness of the AI-generated images and the authentic human responses they provoke.
What This Trend Reveals About AI Accessibility
Perhaps the most significant aspect of this trend isn’t the pranks themselves but what they demonstrate about the democratization of powerful AI tools. Just a few years ago, creating convincing composite images required professional photo editing skills and expensive software. Today, anyone with a smartphone and internet connection can generate realistic AI images within minutes, often for free.
This accessibility represents both remarkable progress and potential concern. While lowering barriers to creative tools empowers more people to experiment with technology, it also means more individuals can create convincing fake images with minimal effort or understanding of the implications. The AI Homeless Man trend exists in this complex space where technology enables new forms of expression and entertainment while simultaneously creating new possibilities for misinformation and harm.
As AI image generation continues advancing and becoming more accessible, society will likely grapple with these tensions repeatedly. The current TikTok trend serves as a relatively harmless example of these broader dynamics, but it hints at more serious applications of the same technology that could emerge as tools become even more sophisticated and widespread.
Sources
[1] CyberLink - AI Homeless Man Prank: How to Do the Viral Trend on TikTok: https://www.cyberlink.com/blog/ai-app-photo-editing/4306/ai-prank-trend
[2] YouTube - How To Do Homeless AI Tiktok Trend Tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7-RMt_t4HE
[3] The Tab - All the viral AI pranks from TikTok, and how to do them: https://thetab.com/2025/10/13/all-the-viral-ai-pranks-from-shirtless-plumber-to-homeless-man-and-exactly-how-to-do-them
Photo by LoboStudioHamburg on Pixabay