In an increasingly digital world, technology’s new frontier is artificial intelligence, or AI.
AI, like any new tech, has faced its fair share of criticism and praise. Professors from Virginia Tech spotlight “The good, the bad, and the scary” impacts of AI on our world. AI offers significant benefits in how we use technology, leads to scientific advancements, and improves our personal and professional productivity. However, AI can threaten the job security of individuals whose work can be replicated using AI, it can be used to spread misinformation, and it can diminish our human connections while increasing our dependence on technology.
The use of AI also poses a substantial threat to our environment. MIT News breaks down the concerns of AI’s impact in an article, “Explained: Generative AI’s Environmental Impact.”
Training large AI learning models - like GPT-4 - requires significant computational power. These computers are housed in large data centers that consume a high level of electricity, which puts a strain on power grids. These computers also generate a lot of heat which demands a vast amount of water to create a cooling system. These cooling systems put a strain on municipal water supplies and disrupt local ecosystems. These data centers also release increased levels of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas that contributes to the greenhouse effect that leads to higher global temperatures.
Whether or not you’ve ever used AI yourself, it’s very likely that you’ve already seen AI either in real life or on your screens. AI-generated images have seen widespread use on the Internet. While trends like Studio Ghibli-style AI images and Apple’s new Genmoji feature can be a lot of fun, AI-generated images are not real, which can lead to misinformation being spread if you believe an AI-generated image is real, and can be used to scam and deceive unsuspecting individuals.
When looking at images online, take a moment to consider if the image may or may not have been generated with AI. Britannica Education has some great tips on how to spot an AI-generated image:
- Unusual or Inconsistent Details: AI-generated images often contain minor, noticeable detail errors. Encourage students to look for abnormalities like asymmetrical facial features, odd finger placement, or objects with strange proportions.
- Texture and Pattern Repetition: AI sometimes struggles with complex textures or patterns, leading to noticeable repetition or awkward transitions. Students should look for unnatural patterns in textures like hair, skin, clothing, or background elements.
- Lighting and Shadows: AI-generated images can have inconsistent or unrealistic lighting and shadows. Students should check if the lighting on different objects in the image matches and if the shadows are consistent with the light sources.
- Background Anomalies: Backgrounds in AI images can be a giveaway. Many are overly simplistic, overly complex, or contain elements that don't belong. Encourage students to pay attention to the background as much as the main subject.
- Facial Features: Faces generated by AI can sometimes appear slightly off. This can include oddities in the eyes (like reflections or iris shape), ears, or hair. These features are often subtly surreal or unnaturally symmetrical/asymmetrical.
- Contextual Errors: AI can struggle with context. An object might be out of place for the setting, or there might be a mismatch in the scale of objects. Encourage students to consider whether everything in the image makes sense contextually.
- Text and Labels: AI often struggles with replicating coherent and contextually accurate text. If there's text on the image, it can sometimes be jumbled, misspelled, or nonsensical in AI-generated images.
- Digital Artifacts: Look for signs of digital manipulation, like pixelation, strange color patterns, or blur in areas where it doesn't logically belong.
- Emotional Inconsistency: AI-generated faces may have expressions that don't quite match the emotion or mood the image conveys.
There are quizzes online if you want to test your AI-image sleuthing skills. Check out these quizzes from Britannica Education, Bloomberg, and University of Berkeley, California.
AI can and has been used to scam individuals through phishing attacks, using an AI-generated voice to imitate the voices of loved ones. It’s important to be aware of how AI can be used so that you can be prepared to protect yourself and educate others about how to protect themselves.
Nora-Grayce Orosz is a part-time Junior Clerk at Crestwood Library. She is a Yonkers (born and raised) freelance writer and social media manager and has fostered a lifelong love of reading.
Alison Robles is a Part-Time Junior Clerk at the Crestwood Library. She is an avid reader with a passion for YA lit, historical fiction and fantasy. A Yonkers native, she recently received an MS in Information and Library Science from the University at Buffalo.