Franklin embraces Tennessee’s ‘It’s Real’ anti-AI picture marketing campaign

FRANKLIN, Tenn. (WTVF) — Franklin is leaning into authenticity.

As synthetic intelligence-generated photos develop into extra frequent on-line, Visit Franklin and Tennessee’s tourism division are pushing again with a brand new initiative referred to as the “It’s Real” marketing campaign — a seal that certifies tourism images had been taken by actual photographers at actual locations.

“People describe it as a Hallmark town,” mentioned one Franklin customer.

It is a city that not solely pops off the web page — it involves life.

Visit Franklin’s Matt Maxey mentioned the marketing campaign is a pure match for a metropolis whose allure is sort of unimaginable to faux.

“You’re always using real photography and thinking about the artist and creators at Visit Franklin, we think of them top of mind,” Maxey mentioned.

As a photographer himself, Maxey mentioned telling Franklin’s story via genuine imagery is one thing synthetic intelligence merely can’t replicate.

“We’re all humans and when you look them in the eyes, you can see emotions on people’s faces. It’s not something you can fully re-create artificially,” Maxey mentioned.

That authenticity issues to vacationers. Tennessee Commissioner of Tourist Development Mark Ezell mentioned analysis backs it up.

“74% of people get online and want to see the photos before they go to a destination. About 70% of those people said we’ve been to a place where it wasn’t at all how it looked,” Ezell mentioned.

Ezell mentioned Tennessee is the primary state to launch a marketing campaign like this, and he hopes it’ll unfold to different states and industries.

“You can trust and know what you’re going to see in the photographs is what you’re gonna get in the experience. It helps in that marketing,” he mentioned. “We’re not anti-AI; we are pro-authenticity.”

The initiative can be a celebration of the photographers and creators behind the photographs — individuals capturing locations just like the Timberland Park mountain climbing trails, a rooftop view over Franklin, and the landscapes of Leiper’s Fork.

“To be able to have photos of it, and authentic versions to show them helps translate that story,” Maxey mentioned.

“We just live in a beautiful state and we hear all the time from folks here how stunning our outdoors are,” Ezell mentioned.

Photos carrying the “It’s Real” seal can solely be minimally retouched. The credentials can even embrace metadata exhibiting who took the picture, when it was taken, and the place the digicam captured the picture.

Do you’ve gotten extra details about this story? You can electronic mail me at Amanda.Roberts@NewsChannel5.com

This story was reported on-air by Amanda Roberts and has been transformed to this platform with the help of AI. Our editorial group verifies all reporting on all platforms for equity and accuracy.