The Rise of Chubby: A New Kind of Internet Star
Move over Grumpy Cat—there’s a new feline capturing the internet’s attention, and he’s not even real. Chubby, an AI-generated rotund orange cat, is the star of emotionally charged short videos that have racked up millions of views across TikTok and YouTube. His stories, often tragic and bizarre, have struck a nerve with viewers worldwide, blurring the line between meme, art, and algorithmically optimized content.
These wordless AI-generated slideshows often depict Chubby in distressing human-like scenarios: homelessness, addiction, arrest, and separation from his son, Chubby Jr. In one viral video, Chubby is shown behind prison bars dreaming of his child. That video alone has garnered over 50 million views, stirring strong emotional reactions across languages and cultures.
Why Sad Cats Are Winning the Internet
Most of these AI-generated videos are set to AI covers of emotional pop songs—like Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For,” sung entirely in meows. The melancholic tone, paired with absurd yet relatable imagery, resonates deeply with viewers. TikTok comment sections are flooded with confessions of unexpected tears and sympathy for the fictional feline family.
“Sad videos generate more engagement because they elicit compassion,” explains Charles, the French creator behind the @mpminds account. Charles attributes the virality to emotional manipulation, but also emphasizes the creative element in crafting these narratives. He says it takes about an hour to produce a single story.
The Algorithmic Influence Behind the Scenes
Experts argue that the virality of Chubby and similar content isn’t entirely organic. Jessica Maddox, author of The Internet Is for Cats, says that cats have long held a special place in digital culture. She suggests that their “malleability” makes them ideal subjects for content creators and meme-makers alike.
Renée DiResta, who led Stanford’s “Shrimp Jesus” study, highlights how AI tools allow content to be produced and shared at scale. She believes social media algorithms—like those on Facebook and TikTok—reward high-volume, emotionally engaging content, regardless of whether it’s created by humans or machines. This has led to a flood of what researchers call “AI slop”—mass-produced, low-effort content designed to go viral.
Between Spam and Art: A Creative Grey Area
While critics dismiss AI cat videos as shallow clickbait, creators like Charles see artistic merit in them. The surreal inconsistencies and imperfections of the AI-generated visuals only add to their emotional impact. For Daniel Chartier, a painter who stumbled upon the videos, the sadness they evoke is surprisingly authentic. “It upsets me how actually sad I find them,” he admits.
Though AI does the heavy lifting, Charles argues that human input is essential. From choosing the storyline to curating the visual details and music, the creator plays a pivotal role in shaping the emotional arc. “AI content can be art,” Charles insists, especially when it’s able to make millions feel something real.
Where Does This Trend Go From Here?
For now, the AI cat video trend shows no signs of slowing down. A key moment in its rise came when a video of a toddler crying while watching a Chubby story went viral, racking up over 173 million views. Even Billie Eilish shared the video, further amplifying the trend.
Still, not everyone is pleased. Some creators, like Tommy Guacamole, mock the trend as manipulative and harmful to digital creativity. “AI content is trash and genuinely ruining the internet,” he says, reflecting a broader backlash against the dominance of algorithm-optimized AI material.
As AI-generated content continues to flood social media, the story of Chubby and his fellow feline avatars raises critical questions: Are these videos heartwarming stories, cynical algorithm bait, or something in between? Regardless of where you stand, it’s clear that Chubby isn’t just another internet cat—he’s a mirror reflecting the emotional and algorithmic forces shaping our digital future.
Category: Artificial Intelligence, Social Media, Internet Culture
Tags: AI-generated videos, Chubby the cat, TikTok trends, emotional content, viral cat videos, AI and art, internet memes, Billie Eilish AI covers, AI storytelling, digital culture
