The Future of AI

For this Media Deconstruction Blog, I wanted to explore the effects of AI and technology on media influence in society. The first thing that came to mind was the recent viral circulation of the AI generated image of the pope dressed out in a large puffy white jacket. I have to admit, I was fooled at first just like many other people across the globe. I knew it seemed a bit out there and ridiculous, but the image itself appeared so realistic at first glance, and with the pope often being in the media, it seemed believable. This led me to think about how cool it can be to generate realistic images as well as how dangerous it can be. I found this article from The Verge that breaks it down and explains a little more about the effects this can have.

The swagged-out pope is an AI fake — and an early glimpse of a new reality

AI fakes are hyperreal — soon, they’ll just be real.

The VergeJames Vincent

Who created this message?

The image itself was created by a man named Pablo Xavier and was originally posted to a subreddit for the AI image generator Midjourney.

What is the historical story being told by this media message?

There's a lot to unpack about this image. It should first be noted that in order to fool so many people, it had to be within a believable realm. Historically, the pope and the Catholic religious background have had a very formal and subtle image. Over time, and in modern technological days, we have seen and heard from the pope and the Vatican on a more global and frequent basis. The pope has also been known to wear more stylish clothing as well, so this isn't too far off for expecting them to catch up to modern day images and expectations.

What creative techniques are used to attract my attention?

AI generated images are becoming more realistic as the technology is advancing and getting smarter. At first glance, it appears real. In the article though, it was pointed out how you can tell it is an AI generated image with subtle differences such as the crucifix he is wearing is smeared without proper right angles and the edges of his glasses are transitioning into its shadows.

What are the implications of this arrangement?

I think it is safe to say that with the ever changing and quickly advancing technology these days, these AI generated images have the potential to cause a lot of harm. Many people are quick to assume or believe things that they come across without always fact checking or considering where the information is coming from.  People have the potential to create images that can damage reputations, promote violence, or target specific races or types of people. Images like the one of the pope show people how easy it is to make something up, create a fake image, and get it to circulate around the world fooling millions of people. I worry about the future and how the wrong image can start arguments or create a sense of fear where people will often have to defend themselves when false images begin to circulate. There are a lot of great and fun ways to interact with AI image generators, but it is important to be prepared for when it is used for the wrong reasons.