Gayathri Kallukaran is a Junior Journalist with Eastern Eye. She has a Master’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from St. Paul’s College, Bengaluru, and brings over five years of experience in content creation, including two years in digital journalism. She covers stories across culture, lifestyle, travel, health, and technology, with a creative yet fact-driven approach to reporting. Known for her sensitivity towards human interest narratives, Gayathri’s storytelling often aims to inform, inspire, and empower. Her journey began as a layout designer and reporter for her college’s daily newsletter, where she also contributed short films and editorial features. Since then, she has worked with platforms like FWD Media, Pepper Content, and Petrons.com, where several of her interviews and features have gained spotlight recognition. Fluent in English, Malayalam, Tamil, and Hindi, she writes in English and Malayalam, continuing to explore inclusive, people-focused storytelling in the digital space.
A fun new trend is making waves across the internet — creating your own action figure using AI. Thanks to the ChatGPT action figure prompt, people can now design characters based on themselves or their imagination, simply by writing a few lines of text.
The idea is simple. You create a short prompt describing the action figure you want. This could be based on yourself, a superhero, or even a completely new character. You can describe everything from outfits and weapons to personality traits and sidekicks. Some users even upload a clear photo of their face to make the action figure resemble them.
Many people are enjoying how easy it is to join in. You don’t need to be an artist or expert designer — a few sentences are enough. However, it’s important to appreciate that traditional toy designers and artists still play a huge role in bringing real-world figures to life. This AI trend is just another creative outlet, adding to the world of design, not replacing it.
When it comes to writing your ChatGPT action figure prompt, there’s no limit to creativity. You can start simple:
1. Select and upload an image of yourself in the chat.
2. Use this prompt: “Using the photo of [insert person or description], create a realistic action figure of [him/her/them] in a premium collectible-style blister pack.
The figure should be posed standing upright. The blister pack should have a [colour] header with the text '[main title]' in large [text colour] letters, and below it, '[subtitle]' in smaller [text colour] letters. Include accessories displayed in compartments on the [left/right/both] side(s) of the figure: [list of accessories]. The background inside the blister pack should be [background colour or theme]. Ensure the action figure accurately reflects the facial features, hairstyle, and general appearance of [person], with a [expression type, e.g., smiling, serious] expression. Render the final image in high detail with a photorealistic quality."
The more details you give, the better and more personal your action figure will be. You can include your hobbies, futuristic gear, magical powers, or even a special pet companion. Some people describe their dream superhero outfits, while others add items like electric guitars, drones, or ancient swords to their designs.
What makes the trend so appealing is the mix of childhood memories and modern technology. Many grew up playing with action figures — from superheroes to cartoon favourites — and now they get to create one based on themselves or their wildest ideas. Platforms like Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and Reddit are full of users proudly sharing their unique figures.
Most designs created through the ChatGPT action figure trend are digital images for now. But with 3D printing becoming more common, it’s possible that these creations could soon be made into real, physical toys. Some small businesses and independent toy makers are already exploring ways to turn AI-generated ideas into hand-crafted models, showing that technology and traditional art can work together.
Joining the trend is simple. Think of the kind of character you want to become. Write a prompt that covers the details — your appearance, outfit, special gadgets, superpowers, and even your personality. You can upload a clear photo if you want your action figure to have your face. Then, let the AI create your digital action figure.
The ChatGPT action figure trend is all about unlocking imagination in a new, accessible way. It’s not about replacing real artists; it’s about giving more people the chance to create something fun and personal. Whether you want to be a warrior, an astronaut, a wizard, or even a rockstar with a flying cat sidekick, the possibilities are endless.
Britain’s food retailers have said that higher employer taxes and regulatory costs as well as increased staff wages are adding to inflationary pressure
British grocery inflation nudged down to stand at five per cent over the four weeks to 10 August, data from market researcher Worldpanel by Numerator showed on Tuesday (19), providing a little relief for consumers.
The figure, the most up-to-date snapshot of UK food inflation, compared with 5.2 per cent in last month’s report.
“We’ve seen a marginal drop in grocery price inflation this month, but we’re still well past the point at which price rises really start to bite and consumers are continuing to adapt their behaviour to make ends meet,” Fraser McKevitt, head of retail and consumer insight at Worldpanel, said.
The researcher said prices were rising fastest in markets such as chocolate, fresh meat and coffee and falling fastest in champagne and sparkling wine, dog food and sugar confectionery.
Britain’s food retailers have said that higher employer taxes and regulatory costs as well as increased staff wages are adding to inflationary pressure from higher prices for commodities.
Trade body the British Retail Consortium, which represents Britain’s biggest retailers, predicts that food inflation will hit 6 per cent by the end of the year, putting more pressure on household budgets in the run-up to Christmas.
The Bank of England has forecast it will hit 5.5 per cent before Christmas and then fall back as global wholesale factors fade.
Official UK inflation data for July will be published on Wednesday. (Reuters)
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In his Independence Day address, Modi said the goods and services tax (GST) would be reformed and rates lowered by Diwali, which falls in October. (Photo: Getty Images)
INDIA’s government will reduce consumption tax rates by October, a top official said on Friday, hours after prime minister Narendra Modi announced reforms to support the economy amid trade tensions with the United States.
The federal government is planning a two-rate structure of 5 per cent and 18 per cent, removing the existing 12 per cent and 28 per cent slabs, the official told Reuters, requesting anonymity as the plans are still under discussion.
According to the official, 99 per cent of items currently taxed at 12 per cent, including butter, fruit juices, and dry fruits, will be shifted to 5 per cent. The move could affect companies such as Nestle, Hindustan Unilever, and Procter & Gamble.
The announcement follows rising trade tensions between New Delhi and Washington over US tariffs on Indian goods. Modi on Friday urged people to promote domestic products, with some of his supporters calling for a boycott of American goods.
In his Independence Day address, Modi said the goods and services tax (GST) would be reformed and rates lowered by Diwali, which falls in October.
"This Diwali, I am going to make it a double Diwali for you. Over the past eight years, we have undertaken a major reform in goods and services tax. We are bringing next-generation GST reforms that will reduce the tax burden across the country," Modi said.
The final decision will be taken by the GST Council, chaired by the finance minister and comprising state finance ministers, the official said. The council is expected to meet by October.
Brokerage Citi estimates that about 20 per cent of items, including packaged food, beverages, apparel and hotel accommodation, are in the 12 per cent slab. These account for 5-10 per cent of consumption and 5-6 per cent of GST revenue.
If most of these are moved to the 5 per cent slab and some to 18 per cent, the government could see a revenue loss of about 500 billion rupees, or 0.15 per cent of GDP, Citi said. This could take the total policy stimulus for households in the 2025-26 financial year to 0.6-0.7 per cent of GDP, it added.
(With inputs from agencies)
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CEO of Morrisons Rami Baitiéh (centre) takes on the Heera Foods Gol Gappay challenge
Morrisons chief executive Rami Baitiéh took part in a lively “Gol Gappay Challenge” at the supermarket’s Bradford headquarters on Tuesday, as part of celebrations for South Asian Heritage Month.
The event, hosted in the company’s central atrium, was led by Bradford-based Heera Foods, which served up its popular Gol Gappay – crispy puris filled with spiced chickpeas and tangy water – to staff and visitors.
The highlight was a 60-second eating contest where colleagues competed to finish as many Gol Gappay as possible before the clock ran down. To cheers from the crowd, Baitiéh joined in and managed four in a minute.
“It was fantastic to see the CEO of one of the UK’s biggest supermarkets join in with such enthusiasm,” said Noor Ali, senior commercial manager at Heera Foods. “Gol Gappay, also known as pani puri, are all about fun, flavour and bringing people together, and Rami certainly embraced that spirit.”
The open day formed part of Morrisons’ program of events showcasing South Asian food and culture. For Heera Foods, one of Bradford’s longest-standing South Asian brands, it was an opportunity to highlight a snack loved across the subcontinent.
Heera Foods, part of P&B Foods Ltd, has been based in Bradford since the 1960s and produces a wide range of South Asian staples and ready-to-eat products from its UK facility.
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When Mounjaro was launched in Britain, Lilly set a list price 'significantly below' that in its other three European markets to avoid delays in NHS availability. (Photo: Reuters)
ELI LILLY said on Thursday it will increase the UK list price of its weight-loss drug Mounjaro by up to 170 per cent. The price change comes as the White House urges drugmakers to raise prices in Europe to enable price cuts in the United States.
The new price, which also applies to Lilly's type 2 diabetes medicine sold under the same name, will take effect in September. A month's supply of the highest dose will rise from £122 to £330, the company said.
The increase will apply to those paying for Mounjaro privately but will not affect patients receiving it through the National Health Service (NHS), which has a separate pricing agreement, a Lilly spokesperson said.
When Mounjaro was launched in Britain, Lilly set a list price “significantly below” that in its other three European markets to avoid delays in NHS availability. “We are now aligning the list price more consistently,” the company said.
The change comes as drugmakers adjust to policy shifts in the United States, their largest market, where president Donald Trump is seeking lower domestic drug prices while encouraging increases overseas.
Last week, Lilly CEO David Ricks told investors that price parity between the US and Europe was desirable over time, but said European governments “are not signing up to pay more for drugs.”
The US pays more for prescription drugs than any other country, often nearly three times more than other developed nations. Trump says he wants to narrow this gap to prevent Americans from being “ripped off.”
Reuters reported last week that the Trump administration has been in talks with drugmakers about ways to equalise prices across markets.
A list price is the amount set by a drug manufacturer before any discounts or rebates.
Lilly said it is working with private UK healthcare providers, including online pharmacies, which can set their own prices, to maintain access to the medicines.
Lilly launched Mounjaro in the UK in February 2023, while rival Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy became available in the country in September 2023.
(With inputs from Reuters)
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The Canary Wharf business district including global financial institutions in London. (Photo: Getty Images)
UK's economy grew more than expected in the second quarter, though at a slower pace than the first three months of 2025, as US tariffs and a higher UK business tax weighed on activity, official data showed on Thursday.
Gross domestic product rose 0.3 per cent in April-June, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said, above analyst forecasts of 0.1 per cent growth. This followed a 0.7 per cent rise in the first quarter.
“Today’s economic figures are positive with a strong start to the year and continued growth in the second quarter,” said finance minister Rachel Reeves.
“But there is more to do to deliver an economy that works for working people,” she added, after a challenging first year in power for the Labour government.
The ONS said growth in construction and services in the second quarter helped offset a fall in production.
“Growth was led by services, with computer programming, health and vehicle leasing growing,” said Liz McKeown, ONS director of economic statistics.
Data released on Wednesday showed UK unemployment at a four-year high of 4.7 per cent in the second quarter.
The slowdown comes after the government raised the UK business tax from April, when US President Donald Trump’s 10 per cent baseline tariff on most goods also took effect.
Citing risks from US tariffs, the Bank of England last week cut its key interest rate by a quarter point to 4 per cent.
“The weak global economy will remain a drag on UK GDP growth for a while yet,” said Ruth Gregory, deputy chief UK economist at Capital Economics.
“The full drag on business investment from April’s tax rises has yet to be felt. And the ongoing speculation about further tax rises in the (UK) autumn budget will probably keep consumers in a cautious mood,” she added.