All the viral AI pranks from shirtless plumber to homeless man, and exactly how to do them

Just when it seemed like TikTok had run out of ways to use the viral AI pranks, people have found endless new ways to cause chaos. The latest wave of AI photo pranks are taking over the platform, and it’s all about using image generators to create scenes so convincing they could almost fool anyone.

From fake shirtless plumbers fixing dishwashers to mysterious strangers lurking in the background, people are using AI to make totally normal photos look hilariously suspicious, and then sending them to friends, partners, or family just to watch their reactions.

@jennaeagless This trend is so funny, I had to participate #aiphoto #chatgpt #prank ♬ Blue Danube Waltz – London Symphony Orchestra

The formula is simple: Take a photo of an ordinary space, like your kitchen, living room, or front yard, and run it through an AI image generator. Ask it to add something unexpected. It could be a random man fixing the sink, a celebrity casually hanging out, or a new pet sitting on the counter. The more realistic the image looks, the better the prank. It’s all part of a growing trend where people use AI to trick their loved ones, all in good fun (most of the time).

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@nicole.lag He’s smarter than I though #AI #prank #gemini #husbandwife ♬ Chopin Nocturne No. 2 Piano Mono – moshimo sound design

How to make your own AI prank

Creating one of these fake photos only takes a few minutes.

1. Take a photo of a normal setting: Maybe your kitchen, living room, or garden.
2. Upload it to an AI generator – Google Gemini works best.
3. Give it a fun prompt. Ask the AI to add a person, object, or animal that doesn’t belong, like “add a repairman fixing the dishwasher” or “a bailiff taking our TV away”.
4. Tweak the details until it looks just believable enough to pass for real. The more specific you are with the details of how you want it to look, the better.
5. Send it to your target with a casual message like “look who just showed up”, and wait for the confusion to unfold.

Need some inspiration? Here are all the other AI pranks blowing up on TikTok right now.

The homeless man prank

Fake a random man lurking in your house to terrify your parents.

@elliehughesy Sorry mum xx #homelessman #ai #homlessmanprank #fyp #funny ♬ Blue Danube Waltz – London Symphony Orchestra

The builder who split his trousers

Generate a builder in his pants claiming he’s borrowed yours.

@macciexoo Rumour has it he threw his clubs 🤭🤭🤭 #prankwars #prank #boyfriendprank #AI ♬ Blue Danube: Waltz – London Symphony Orchestra

The bailiff prank

Add a fake bailiff or police officer outside your home and pretend they’ve come to take your stuff.

@oliviarosemartin1 Homeless man AI trend but made it a bailiff edition. Nearly gave big tone a heart attack 😆😆😆😆 . . . #ai #prank #fyp #trend #dad ♬ Blue Danube: Waltz – London Symphony Orchestra

The fireman prank

Pretend there’s been a fire and an AI fireman turned up to help.

@juliaaging do not do this prank unless you want your dad to be really mad at you and now think you’re the boy who cried wolf #aiprank #ai #snapchatai #prank #dadprank ♬ Blue Danube: Waltz – London Symphony Orchestra

AI makes it ridiculously easy to make these photos look real. Whether it’s harmless fun or emotional manipulation probably depends on who you send it to.

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Featured image credit: TikTok/@juliaaging, @oliviarosemartin1