Generative AI and OA

[Godd Howard]

I've got a few, but my primary issue with usage of Generative AI in OA is it tends to hallucinate or depict things strangely. Generally it's just small things, for example in the Megastructural Migrations article there is an AI generated image that seems fine at first- until you notice that many of the mountains in the background are cut in half, and the issues with perspective in the foreground.

It is not that simple. The Megastructural Migrations image is not just an AI image. I put it together from at least three different AI generated images, as well as a model of a Bank's Orbital which I made myself. So if there are any 'stitching errors' they are probably my own work rather than the work of the various AI generators I used.

This image replaced a previous image I made using a landscape generator and a different view of the same Bank's Orbital model; if I recall correctly I simply drew the migrating population on by hand, but it looked a bit fuzzy; so I replaced it with this one which is quite a bit clearer. In due course I may replace the image again, but I might still use a mixture of models I have made myself, found images from various sources and  AI generated images.

One source for landscape images I sometimes use is Google Earth, which has an almost infinite number of views of Earthlike landscapes. I also use Space Engine, Terragen, and an addon that generates landforms in Anim8or. I also use photos I have taken myself. All these images (including the AI generated ones) are heavily edited in Gimp, so I consider them to be my own work, not simply AI images.

On the other hand Keith Wigdor's AI generated images are mostly, or completely, generated by AI programs, so they are more problematic I have more than a hundred of his images, some of which are in his gallery, but it is tricky to find uses for them in articles.

I was referring to the image depicting a person on power stilts, I honestly hadn't noticed any issues with the first, like DSPE, I really like it!

Given that the first image is so high quality, however, I'm not sure if the page really needs the power stilts image, maybe that's just me though..

[stevebowers]

I made the power stilts image in a similar fashion, using two different AI images, extra clouds and a modified Celestia image. Since both AI images were by Bing, I credited the AI as well. But it is largely my work.

The power stilts concept is inspired both by J. Storrs Hall's articles about advanced transport concepts, and the rather obscure Marvel comics villain Stiltman.

[stevebowers]

I'll tidy up the Power Stilts image too, shortly.

[Godd Howard]

I'll tidy up the Power Stilts image too, shortly.

I'm sorry if my post comes off as simply bashing the image, that was not my intent, and the power stilts image isn't terrible. It was simply the first AI generated image that came to mind.

[stevebowers]

Some rough edges removed from the Stiltwalker image, now.    

[ProxCenBound]

I'll add my voice concurring that AI generated images are mostly to be understood as placeholders now. I don't like such images, both in that they may discourage human contributions and because they typically have bad details and other unnatural qualities.

[stevebowers]

On the other hand I find that AI generated images are a reasonably good source of background landscapes which can be used in connection with other elements to make a hybrid picture. Both Megastructure Migration images in this thread are a hybrid mixture of models, AI generated images and actual photographs stitched together in the photomodification tool Gimp. This is not that different to the process I use to make all the other images I've submitted.

[Drashner1]

Our current approach to AI images is fine IMO and I don't think spending a lot of time and energy worrying about changing it is the best use of our time. If one of our current hybrid images has an issue of some kind that might be fixed or improved upon then bringing it to the group's attention is fine in the same vein that making us aware of typos or outdated information is fine.

If someone doesn't like our use of an AI generated image on some page or on general principles, they are welcome to create/submit a new image(s) without using AI for our consideration.

My 2c worth,

Todd

[ProxCenBound]

I don't have an inherent problem with AI as a source of material judiciously used by human artists. I was speaking of images that are themselves AI generated, in full, i.e. with no (or very little) altering by human artists.

[MiyuwiAuthor]

I feel like in many communities online, generative AI is viciously abhorred, and so hosting these images might cause some controversy in the future.