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An impressive image popped up in my Facebook feed or was forwarded many times in a WhatsApp group. The photo comes complete with information about its content and the circumstances in which it was taken, and perhaps even an inspiring sentiment about the wonders of our universe. How wonderful!
But wait—does what we see represent reality? In an age where artificial-intelligence models can generate text and visuals at the click of a button, it is important to set aside first impressions and critically examine what’s presented to us. Is it real? How can we tell that it is real?
Take, for example, the image on the right that was posted in various space-enthusiast forums. We added a few pink arrows to point out “clues” that will help you spot the fake.
First, does the caption explicitly state that the image is AI-generated? Sometimes people are honest about who (or what) created the content. In this case, one of the posts carrying the picture included the hashtags #AI and #Sciencefiction, leaving no room for doubt.
Second, what is the source? Photos taken from a space station are supposed to be published by NASA or by another space agency, yet Google Lens can’t find this image on any of those sites.
Third, is the accompanying information correct? For instance, basic geographical knowledge is enough to tell that the small, perfectly round island in the picture cannot be Sicily, which is a large, triangular island near the “boot” of Italy.
And last but not least, can you spot the typical AI slip-ups in the image? Absolutely! For example, the shadow of the giant smoke plume does not match its shape or size, the shoreline of the island in the background blends seamlessly into the clouds that are supposedly covering it, and in the lower right corner there is an astronaut helmet that looks as if it is part of the space station.
In summary, breathtaking pictures can give us a moment of delight, but let us make sure we are marveling at the real world and not at AI hallucinations. As AI models become more more sophisticated at producing convincing content, we must continue to exercise judgment and healthy skepticism toward every image that comes our way.
Hebrew editing: Shir Rosenblum-Man
English editing: Elee Shimshoni
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Tom is responsible for short-form content. He is a doctoral student in medical sciences at the Faculty of Medicine at the Technion. His research focuses on how neural activity shapes the function of the immune system. Tom holds a bachelor's degree in Life Sciences and Earth Sciences from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
