Can You Spot The AI Generated Image

The Rise of the Digital Fake

Let's be honest: technology is a double-edged sword. With the explosion of AI-generated images and deep fakes, telling real photos from fakes has become incredibly difficult. This is where the work of digital forensics experts like Hany Farid becomes essential.

An Expert's View on the War on Reality

In a compelling TED talk, Farid explains how he assists journalists, courts, and governments in detecting the subtle structural flaws in AI-generated images. He also shares his expertise with the public, offering practical tips to navigate what he aptly calls "the internet’s war on reality." Farid, trained as an applied mathematician and computer scientist, has spent the last 30 years building technologies to authenticate digital media. He notes that what used to be a monthly task has now become a daily part of his work.

Why Is This Happening Now

He points to a perfect storm of factors: powerful generative AI and the largely unregulated nature of social media. "We now have the ability to create images that are almost indistinguishable from reality… social media dominates the world and is largely unregulated, and actively promotes and amplifies lies and conspiracies over the truth," Farid states. While image manipulation has existed since the dawn of photography, modern technology has made it accessible to anyone with the press of a button.

A Challenge to the Photography Community

This raises important questions for photographers and visual artists. What are your thoughts on this evolving landscape? We invite you to share your perspective and join the discussion.