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MEDIA BYTES

By Rev. Marty Levesque

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE  (AI) has made significant strides in image generation in recent years, creating hyper-realistic images that can be incredibly difficult to distinguish from real pictures.

While this technology has exciting applications in art and entertainment, it also raises concerns about the potential for misinformation and deepfakes. It is key that churches and users of social media protect themselves from these deepfakes and misinformation.

Here are some key indicators to help you spot AI-generated images:

  1. Unrealistic Details: Pay close attention to the eyes. AI often struggle with rendering realistic eyes, resulting in pupils that are too large or small. Hands and fingers are notoriously difficult for AI to generate accurately. Look for unnatural shapes, missing fingers, or digits that appear fused. While AI has improved in rendering hair, there may still be inconsistencies in the way hair flows or appears too uniform. Backgrounds in AI-generated images can sometimes appear blurry (especially any signs in the background), unrealistic, or contain strange out-of-place artifacts.

  2. Unusual Patterns and Textures: AI sometimes generate repeating patterns or textures that appear unnatural or overly uniform. Does the tablecloth match the dress? Also, pay attention to the way light interacts with objects in the image. Shadows may appear unnatural, or the overall lighting may seem inconsistent or overly dramatic.

  3. Technical Artifacts: AI models may sometimes struggle to render fine details, resulting in blurring or a lack of sharpness in certain areas of the image. This is especially true in the background artifacts. Restaurant signs or street signs are often blurred out.

  4. Contextual Clues: If you suspect an image is fake, use reverse image search tools to see if the image appears elsewhere online. If it appears on multiple websites or in different contexts, it most likely is AI-generated. And be wary of images from unverified sources or social media accounts known for sharing misleading content.

Remember, as AI image generation technology continues to evolve, it will become increasingly difficult to distinguish between real and AI-generated images. By being aware of these potential indicators and using a combination of critical thinking and available tools, you can better navigate the evolving landscape of social media and protect yourself and your church.

Rev. Marty Levesque is the rector of All Saints’ in Waterloo. He served as diocesan social media officer.

martylevesque@diohuron.org