From Zero to Viral: How AI Transformed This Artist’s Career Forever

Read time: under 4 minutes

Imagine turning your wildest artistic visions into reality—without ever touching a paintbrush.

That’s exactly what Tyler Bernabe, a 38-year-old video effects artist from Maui, did. Armed with passion, persistence, and the right AI tools, he skyrocketed from an unknown freelancer to a viral sensation in just two years.

His secret? AI-powered artistry.

🎨The Dream that Became a Reality

Before AI, Tyler spent hours manually creating video effects, often limited by time and technical constraints. But everything changed when he discovered TopazLabs’ AI-powered editing tools.

With a deep understanding of video editing and AI-enhanced automation, Tyler trained small AI models to generate mind-blowing visuals—think anime characters with diamond grills, dancing food, and hyper-realistic transformations.

The results? Jaw-dropping content that took the internet by storm.

🚀 The Tools That Took Him to the Top

Tyler found the perfect balance between AI automation and human creativity using:

✅ Topaz Video AI 6 – Enhanced motion quality for ultra-smooth animations.
✅ Topaz Photo AI 3 – Brought incredible detail to still images.
✅ Gigapixel AI 8 – Upscaled low-resolution images into stunning, high-definition visuals.

Unlike many who think AI simply “presses a button,” Tyler combined AI with human artistry—refining details in Photoshop, enhancing animations in Adobe After Effects, and optimizing content for social media engagement.

📈 The Viral Breakthrough

Tyler’s AI-driven creativity exploded across social media. His bold, vibrant, and sometimes surreal visuals racked up millions of views, attracting attention from Joe Rogan, Grimes, and even Coachella.

Here’s what happened next:

🔥 From 10K to 300K Instagram followers in 2 years.
🔥 111M+ views on a single AI video.
🔥 40M+ views on his “Dancing Food” series.
🔥 Featured animations at Coachella’s main stage.

Tyler’s success wasn’t luck—it was strategy and consistency. He followed a 3-posts-per-week formula, analyzed trends, and even intentionally left small AI “flaws” (like extra fingers) to spark engagement and fuel viral conversations.

💡 Lessons for AI Digital Entrepreneurs

Tyler’s journey proves that AI isn’t here to replace creativity—it’s here to enhance it. Here’s how you can use AI to elevate your work:

✅ Use AI as a tool, not a replacement. It helps you work faster but still requires human touch.
✅ Train small AI models with the right data to create one-of-a-kind art styles.
✅ Post consistently and engage your audience—virality comes from momentum.
✅ Embrace imperfection. Sometimes, the best engagement comes from “flaws” people love to discuss.

🚀 Ready to Create Your Own Viral AI Content?

Tyler’s story is proof that AI can be a game-changer—but only if you know how to leverage it correctly.

If you want to bring your creative ideas to life and start your own journey to AI-powered success, explore TopazLabs AI tools today and see where your imagination can take you. 🎨✨