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By the close of 2023, it seemed that AI-generated imagery — a novel method of picture creation — posed a significant challenge to traditional photography. However, by the conclusion of 2024, that challenge had been mitigated to some extent.
In 2023, AI-generated photos were claiming top honors in esteemed photography competitions. By 2024, authentic photographs were dominating competitions for AI-generated imagery.
Flipping the Script
In June, a photographer was excluded from a photography contest after his authentic picture triumphed in the AI-image category.
“I aimed to demonstrate that nature can still surpass machines and that there is still value in authentic work produced by real artists,” photographer Miles Astray shared with PetaPixel.
Astray’s image of a headless flamingo secured third place in the AI category of the 1839 Color Photography Awards, also clinching the People’s Vote Award.
Six Fingers on Trump’s Hand
President-elect Donald Trump exhibited no hesitation in utilizing AI imagery during his campaigning in 2024. While there were more serious instances of Trump employing AI, such as false endorsements from mega pop star Taylor Swift, the most humorous incident involved sharing an AI-generated image of himself praying with six fingers.
The comical image depicted him kneeling incorrectly at a pew in a church, which Trump posted on his Truth Social page. It was quickly flagged by commenters who immediately recognized the common mistakes AI makes with hands, a reassuring indication that the public is becoming more discerning in identifying AI-generated content.
Allegations that Super Bowl Ad Photos Were AI-Created
During Super Bowl LVIII in February, as a series of impactful foot-washing photographs for a Jesus ad aired, many online commentators speculated or outright claimed they were AI-generated.
Nonetheless, photographer Julia Fullerton-Batten disclosed to PetaPixel that she was engaged by a group named He Gets Us to photograph a collection of high-quality, fine art images showcasing individuals washing each other’s feet. The photo shoots were grand productions that resulted in cinematic visuals.
“It’s concerning when images are so exquisitely and meticulously produced that people begin doubting their authenticity,” Fullerton-Batten remarked at that time.
“I find it disheartening. It makes me truly sad since we dedicated an incredible amount of time to creating, and there was superb collaboration from everyone involved, yet people casually question, ‘Is it AI?’”
The Flawed ‘Made With AI’ Tag Rolled Out by Instagram
To address the surge of AI-generated images populating the internet, Meta unveiled “Made with AI” labels on Facebook and Instagram.
Nonetheless, the introduction was seriously flawed with PetaPixel demonstrating that Meta was inaccurately tagging images as AI-generated when they were not.
The criticism compelled Meta to alter the “Made with AI” label that appears on Instagram to “AI Info” instead.
Deceivers Creating Fake Tragedy Imagery
A series of hurricanes struck the United States this fall, and as Hurricane Helene ravaged portions of North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, and Florida, online deceivers fabricated and disseminated AI images claiming to depict flood victims.
Experts raised concerns about whether these deceptive images going viral are harmful to the actual victims of such incidents, as the public becomes more cautious of misinformation.
This ‘1989 Photo of a Man Smoking in McDonald’s’ Is Not What It Appears
In February, an image that gained viral attention depicted a man seated in a McDonald’s restaurant, smoking a cigarette and eating a burger, supposedly taken in 1989, captioned “peak male specimen”.
Although the AI-generated image displayed a fair degree of realism, several artifacts revealed the truth, such as distorted text, an extra finger, and bizarre background figures.
AI Polar Bear Takes Social Media by Storm
Finally, 2024 marked the year when AI video cemented its presence, and despite its numerous defects, an AI clip of a polar bear “being rescued” spread across the internet swiftly, deceiving many.
For photographers who have devoted their careers to capturing genuine polar bears, witnessing the rise of fake wildlife videos was disheartening.
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