The rise of AI (Skynet and all that!!)

[davidc]

Noticing a lot of AI being passed off as photographs on social media, mainly shown to me by my family(I try to avoid Facebook and the likes) but the images are obviously not real. Animals and particularly birds are prime candidates for this. I commented on one just to see what the reaction would be, I got slaughtered. The funny thing was the bird they said they took the photo of did not in reality exist. When asked what species it was they could not tell me, or where the photo was taken. I know most of the editing programs use AI, useful of course, but how far until it is no longer an image you took, but one you made. It is also having a massive impact on the design industry. You can make any design you want without any skill at all.

[Robert Apple]

I like to think that in the future, much like today’s GMO Free Food,  (GMO) “Genetically Modified Organisms”, or (GMF) “Genetically Modified Food”,

We will have (AIMA) “Artificial Intelligence Modified Art” like AIMA Free Art, There is already a Special effect free movement starting in the film industry.

People in general have gotten so lazy looking for instant gratification, But instant gratification brings a lack of true pride in your work.

Technology was supposed to be used to make us better and unify mankind, but the trend seems to have gone the other way and made people lazy and ungrateful, and as we have recently been reminded an excellent tool to spread terror. As many psychologists are now observing we are currently the most connected people’s ever ,  but also the loneliest  and most divided ever.

[Patrick]

Definitely loneliest

[Rob Wood (Admin)]

I honestly think at this point the only thing that will save entire industries is legislation. Now, whether they pass that fast enough is the question.

[Patrick]

Some Work from a friend

https://www.georgedisario.com/the-funeral

[davidc]

That’s Very good, Patrick. Do you do any work with him?

[Patrick]

No mate , I don’t bother with much more than a basic camera and still trying to get to grips with it haha , George has been at this photography for many many years and has worked with a lot of well known people on all kinds of projects from personal work to commercial work, This AI work he does is his little space were he can break free from the camera but still create this stuff from his imagination and he is also a very good writer when you combine the two you can make some beautiful looking work.

[bucweeet]

That’s very impressive work by your friend, Patrick.

But, I’m wondering why… especially with your friend’s expert skill level… he has that specific image for his “Shape to Dreams” category.

five (5) fingers and a thumb is quite often the outcome of the the beginner AI artists (until they learn to refine their ‘descriptors’).

With his outstanding skills, I’m sure that it is an oversight on his part.

[Patrick]

Stable diffusion is notoriously bad at hands infect not just AI but most human Artist also struggle with hands it is a well known fact hands have a lot going on if you want them to look right , with time stable diffusions hands have improved but still issues for sure , lots of people use in painting now or control net.

[Federico Alegria]

the most worrying part is the huge visual illiteracy among non-photographers or non-designers, lots of people believe that AI generated images are indeed factual, and that’s a huge problem…

[Patrick]

I know George clearly states on every piece it is AI generated This is his IG

https://www.instagram.com/george_at_wonderland/

[Robert Apple]

Nah @federicoalegria, the most worrying part is AI being used for Evil, And I don’t use the word evil lightly.
Imagine a parent posts a image of their child on line, an innocent act to share a loved one with family and friends. Shortly there after the FBI shows up at your door to have a conversation you never imagined.
Predators use real videos and images of child exploitation (Porn) to “train” AI programs to create more content(Porn). Moreover, predators often use social media images of kids to create “deep fake” look-a-likes for their perverse programs, So while the actual video may not be of a real child suffering abuse, the AI program “learned” from real videos and uses the faces and likenesses of real children.
This isn’t something to be imagined , it’s real and it’s the world we live in today , its happening right now.
That’s what worries me.

[davidc]

You are spot on Robert. Truly frightening.

[Patrick]

I am not sure this is a fault with Ai but more a personality issue , i just think in life you have good and you have bad , The stuff you mention that has happened has being going on for a long time , photoshop and other tools have been used long before AI arrived for such terrible things.

Too deep a topic for me , there is 1000’s of good things by having AI and 1000’s of bad things it all boils down to how one decides to use it at the end of the day  , bit like Guns

[Patrick]

These are my first and maybe my only go at trying this AI generated images , I just wanted to have a try ,

The poachers

Gamekeepers House ( more game graphic than real life )

[Wendy P]

Nice work, Patrick. I watched George’s video with great interest because my son works in AI and we have long conversations about the potential future impact in all areas of life, including photography. For me, the “tell” it is AI work lies is in the lack of depth and detail around the subjects’ eyes. Once they can fix that flaw all bets are off!

[Patrick]

One i finished last night

[Wendy P]

I like this one a lot!

[Patrick]

Thank you Wendy ,

I am just curious about what can be done with this tech and one’s own input via adjusting your Prompt , The images above i used a simple free to try version and got these results , when you take a pro subscription you get far more control over each piece you do with all the fine tuning and lots of people you can reach out too and get help with things if need be.

[Rob Wood (Admin)]

It’s interesting technology and I look forward to where it’s going. But I honestly think it kills commercial photography, design and writing within 5 years.

I am not sure about hobbyists. I don’t think so cos the motivation is slightly misalligned. Time will tell I guess.

[Patrick]

I read your thoughts with interest mate and can only imagine how this will come into play

I asked an AI chat system how it thinks the effect will be felt for commercial photography learning companies .

Ai response in full

The impact of AI on commercial photography, design, and writing will depend on how companies like yours adapt to the changing landscape. If your company exclusively sells online PDF tutorials as a way of teaching new photographers the art of photography, AI could potentially disrupt your business in a few ways:

1.Increased Availability of Free or Low-Cost AI-Generated Tutorials: AI-powered tools could generate tutorials that are similar in quality to your company’s PDFs, but at a lower cost or even for free. This could make it harder for your company to compete and attract new customers.

2. Demand for Personalized and Interactive Learning: As AI becomes more sophisticated, learners may increasingly demand personalized and interactive learning experiences, which your company’s PDF tutorials may not be able to provide. AI-powered platforms could offer adaptive learning pathways, real-time feedback, and personalized recommendations, making them more appealing to new photographers.

3.Evolution of Photography Education: The rise of AI could lead to a shift in how photography education is delivered, moving away from traditional methods like PDF tutorials and towards more immersive and interactive approaches. This could make your company’s current offerings less relevant and in demand.

To mitigate these potential risks, the company could consider the following strategies:

1.Embrace AI to Enhance Your Tutorials: Instead of viewing AI as a threat, your company could incorporate AI into your tutorials to improve their effectiveness and engagement. AI could be used to provide personalized feedback, suggest exercises based on individual progress, and create interactive simulations or virtual experiences.

2.Focus on Specialized and Niche Expertise: While AI may be able to generate general photography tutorials, your company could differentiate itself by focusing on specialized or niche areas of photography, where human expertise is still highly valued. This could involve offering tutorials on advanced techniques, specific genres of photography, or using specialized equipment.

3.Develop a Hybrid Learning Platform: Your company could move beyond PDF tutorials and develop a hybrid learning platform that combines self-paced online learning with interactive elements, live workshops, and mentorship opportunities. This would provide a more comprehensive and engaging learning experience for new photographers.

4.Build a Community and Networking Hub: Your company could create a strong online community and networking hub for your students, fostering connections, sharing experiences, and providing ongoing support. This would add value to your offerings beyond just the tutorials themselves.

5.Continuously Adapt and Evolve: The key to success in a rapidly changing environment is the ability to adapt and evolve. Your company should stay up-to-date with the latest AI developments and explore innovative ways to integrate AI into your offerings without losing sight of the human element and the importance of personalized guidance.

By embracing AI as a tool to enhance and complement your existing offerings, focusing on specialized expertise, providing a hybrid learning experience, building a strong community, and continuously adapting to the changing landscape, your company can position itself for continued success in the era of AI.

Lots to think over , but the truth is going forward i think people who can embrace in ways that improves the companies chances of a good future should and those that don’t will be left behind to a degree.
 

[Rob Wood (Admin)]

Yeah I would agree with it to a point. But I would also point out that it has been trained on “tech bro” content and those guys are notoriously (and ironically) anti-education. And every tech bro thinks it can be fixed by tech. And every tech bro from Bill Gates down has failed at it.

[Patrick]

It sure is a massive topic , i don’t think humans will be replaced any time soon if ever.

[Marty E]

I’d like to join in on this discussion. With the rise of AI and digital software, where does art fit in? I did a brief search on artistic intent vs. technical perfection. It seems to me that each of us as photographers have to figure out what our personal goal is for pursuing our craft. When my father died at age 90, he was still dreaming about how to improve his technical craft of painting yet he still suffered emotionally that he couldn’t create “art” on the fly like his younger brother who could draw anything from his imagination. My father was good at copying but couldn’t create from scratch (which meant “being an artist” in his mind). And yet his work had a beauty and mastery of its own because it was technically proficient while being emotionally felt and portraying his moods. I still feel as though he is still with me through his paintings that move me emotionally. My personal goal for creating art through photography is to grow my soul to become a better human being. Do I make mistakes? Absolutely, a million of them! But what I learned from my father is that the beauty of trying to create art through whatever capacity or tools you have available to you is a wondrous thing and worthy of a lifelong pursuit. “Just keep doing it,” he used to tell me. Whether I use digital art, AI or simply shots straight from my camera, the main thing is what did I learn from it and how can I get better at it in the best of ways? I think AI can be a useful tool like Photoshop or Lightroom etc, but to what end? Can I learn from it and become a better human being?

[LightandShadow]

I suggest you view or re-view the film WALL-E. It has much to say about the possible effects of the transfer of effort from human activity to “machines”, even if we leave aside the very very real uses of AI for exploitation as described by Robert and even beyond the example he has chosen.

I wonder whether painters bemoaned the ability to buy paints off the shelf rather than mixing powders to make their own colors. I wonder whether any painters today use this older method rather than simply buying off the shelf and then mixing (or not) to create the colors they want.

Marty’s attitude is a route to redemption. We can choose to employ creativity using tools available to us or not using those tools or employing both new and old tools to embody our vision–for good not evil. Tools make the battle easier or more difficult. AI is a recent threat to humanity; but it is, in my view, another layer on top of other societal choices made.

Karl Marx and many other thinkers viewed societies in evolutionary terms. Their visions of an “end point” differed dramatically but all held onto a notion of the current shape of things to be a more or less necessary step towards some distant utopia. I don’t buy that sort of thinking any more, but it does hold out the notion of hope, though we as a species have to survive the place we are in in order to move to something better. I despair of that but I’ve been an old cynic since my teenage years.

[Marty E]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and your suggestion of revisiting the film WALL-E, @lightandshadow. And I love your wordsmithing with the beautiful phrase “a route to redemption.” That’s definitely a keeper in my book and good words to live and create art by. 🙂 You remind me of a favorite quotation: “If you want to awaken all humanity, then awaken all of yourself. If you want to eliminate the suffering in the world, then eliminate all that is negative in yourself. Truly the greatest gift you have to give is that of your own self-transformation.” – Lao Tzu

It’s up to each of us to be heroes in our own lives on our individual routes of redemption to benefit humanity while doing no harm.

[Author]

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