In 2022, my life changed completely. The war in Ukraine forced me to leave my hometown and move to the United States, where I had the chance to start again. I arrived in Portland, Oregon, with nothing but my dream and my passion for cars.
Starting from zero in a new country wasn’t easy. I didn’t have a big team, expensive equipment, or a marketing agency behind me, but only the desire to keep working with cars as I did in Ukraine and to take my professionalism to a new level.
By late 2022, I discovered something that changed everything: artificial intelligence. At that time, almost no one in the automotive content world was using AI seriously, but I immediately saw its potential. I began experimenting, and by 2023, I had built a fully AI-driven workflow that transformed the way I created, edited, and published content.
My own Instagram and my clients’ pages started growing faster than ever. My reels were reaching over a million views, and my photos began appearing on major brand pages. This isn’t just my story – it’s a guide for anyone who wants to use AI to hack Instagram algorithms and go viral.
Step One: Winning the Quality Game with Topaz AI
When I started posting reels, I faced the same frustration every creator knows: Instagram destroys video quality. First, I tried uploading directly from an iPhone to reduce compression, but that didn’t help much, especially for 4K videos.
In late 2022, I found the solution: Topaz AI.
Before uploading, I processed every reel through Topaz, which optimised the videos and rendered them in 1080p with the perfect bitrate – the sweet spot where Instagram wouldn’t apply extra compression. The result was simple: my reels looked cinematic and sharp.
This single change gave me an immediate advantage. While others were posting soft, grainy reels, mine stood out. People watched longer, engaged more, and that triggered the algorithm to push my videos to even more viewers.
By 2023, Topaz AI became a permanent part of my workflow. I used it for every single video, and it played a massive role in my growth.
Step Two: Perfect Photo Background and light with Adobe Firefly
Another breakthrough came with Adobe Firefly. Back in early 2022, Firefly was still in beta. I applied, got access, and became one of its testers.
For automotive photography, Firefly was a game-changer. Shooting cars isn’t easy, sometimes you’re stuck with dealership car parks, crowded streets, or bad backgrounds. Firefly gave me the ability to transform any shot into something beautiful.
With Firefly, I could replace bad backgrounds on something good and cinematic, or fix some issues around.
Improve framing and composition to make photos look more polished and intentional
By 2023, every image I posted looked professional, even if the original was shot in a parking lot.
This level of visual quality set me apart and boosted my average traffic by 40-50%.
-Ferrari pic on italian streets ferrari 360-
Step Three: Creative Strategies with ChatGPT
Topaz and Firefly helped me perfect the visuals, but I still needed ideas that could go viral. That’s where ChatGPT became my best creative partner.
All you need just to describe the car I wanted to shoot, and ChatGPT suggested concepts, locations, and timing. For example, if I had a blue Porsche, Chat found a graffiti wall with matching blue tones and gave me the exact address.
The other day, I planned to shoot another blue car. ChatGPT advised me to wait two days until snowfall. I followed its suggestion and the result was a viral shot. https://www.instagram.com/p/C0sKwdRvcyv/?igsh=MW4xajl5eDczYmo1dw==
By 2023, ChatGPT had become essential for my planning process. It saved time and helped me create better strategic content.
By mid 2023, my workflow was fully AI-powered. I planned every step, from concept to production, using tools that made my content better, sharper, and more effective.
Thanks to AI, my content achieved on average 50% more engagement, and I gained over 100,000 followers in the first six months.
Why Starting Early Mattered
Looking back, beginning in 2022 gave me a huge advantage. While many creators were ignoring AI or didn’t yet know how to use it, I was already experimenting. By the time others started adopting AI in 2023, I had a full year of testing, data, and results behind me, and all that allowed me to stay ahead.
When I left Ukraine, I had no idea what my future in the United States would look like. But in the United States, I found more than just a new home. I found an opportunity to push creative boundaries and build something from scratch.
My success in 2023 wasn’t all about luck – it came from curiosity, experimentation, and using AI to work smarter.
Topaz AI made my reels sharp and help to save quality
Adobe Firefly fix all the issues around car for every shot
ChatGPT became the key to planning creative strategies and managing content globally
For anyone reading this: Instagram algorithm isn’t impossible to hack. With the right tools and solid strategy, you can easily go viral!
All pictures provided by Roman Basiuk https://www.instagram.com/roman_basiukk
Story by Roman Basiuk
