You can't blame people for being angry about AI. The news keeps saying it's going to take away everyone's jobs. Companies claim they're laying people off due to AI adoption, though this might just be an excuse. AI seems to be outshining humans, and there's a lot of junk-filled AI output fueling worries that the internet will be flooded with AI slop. This worry is understandable, as it's natural to feel threatened by something that's perceived as a replacement for human workers.

And yet, despite all this angst, people are still falling for a simple trick: assuming content is AI-generated just because someone tells them it is. A study published in February 2024, 'Understanding How Personality Traits, Experiences, And Attitudes Shape Negative Bias Toward AI-Generated Artworks' by Simone Grassini and Mika Koivisto, found that people tend to have a negative bias towards AI-generated artwork. This bias exists even if the artwork was devised by a human, and people were only told it was AI-generated. The study's findings are significant, as they highlight the influence of perception on our judgment of AI-generated content.

The study examined human traits such as extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, emotional stability, openness, empathy, and more. Sometimes, a particular human trait can moderate whether a person is going to be antagonistic towards AI artwork or more mollified. For instance, people with higher levels of emotional stability are less likely to be biased against AI-generated content. This suggests that emotional stability plays a crucial role in shaping our attitudes towards AI-generated artwork.

A recent example of this phenomenon was seen on Twitter/X, where a picture of a genuine Monet painting was labeled as AI-generated. Lots of people fell for the charade, posting anti-AI commentary and saying the painting was purely AI slop. They derided AI for trying to produce human-like art but being 'obviously' inferior. The composition of the painting was mocked, and the reflections and depth of artistry were ridiculed. Yet, this was a picture of a true Monet from around 1915.

It's surprising that people didn't fact-check the source of the painting before jumping to conclusions.

Telling someone that an item is AI-generated is like setting off alarm bells and triggering them into a tirade. You might think there's a notable difference between distinguishing artwork and written compositions. Maybe people are more adept at discerning the source of written material than they are of artistic works. However, with the advancements in AI technology, it's becoming increasingly difficult to detect whether a written composition is human-made or AI-generated. This difficulty is due to the rapid improvement in AI's ability to generate coherent and natural-sounding text.

When ChatGPT was first launched in November 2022, the early versions of generative AI and large language models were rather simplistic. Many popular LLMs at the time were apt to use words repeatedly in their generated answers, and the selection of words was skewed. As a result, you could potentially detect whether a written composition was likely made by AI. But nowadays, you can enter a prompt telling AI not to write in a predictable AI-like manner, and it will do a great job of composing content that's essentially impossible to detect as AI-written versus human-written. This capability has significant implications for the way we consume and interact with online content.

The irony is that automation, in this case AI, can be prompted to stir people to believe that something is AI-written in how the item is composed, and can also be prompted to fool people into believing something must absolutely be human-written, even though it was prepared by AI. If you know someone who loudly brags that they can discern AI compositions versus human ones, you might be safest not to argue with them. They will likely blow their top if you suggest they aren’t capable of doing so. It's essential to be humble in our assessment of AI's capabilities and limitations.

As the wise words of Abe Lincoln go: 'You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.' Well, maybe that needs a timely update due to AI; perhaps you can fool all of the people all the time by leaning into the use of AI. This quote highlights the potential for AI to manipulate our perceptions and judgments.

'You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.'

  • Abe Lincoln
  • A study found that people tend to have a negative bias towards AI-generated artwork, even if it's actually human-made.
  • The study examined human traits such as extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, emotional stability, openness, empathy, and more.
  • A picture of a genuine Monet painting was labeled as AI-generated on Twitter/X, and people fell for the charade.
  • ChatGPT's early versions were simplistic, but nowadays it can compose content that's essentially impossible to detect as AI-written versus human-written.
  • AI can be prompted to stir people to believe that something is AI-written or human-written, regardless of the actual source.

The widespread adoption of generative AI and large language models is leading to a phenomenon where people are misjudging human-made content as AI-generated. This phenomenon is not just limited to artwork but also written compositions. As AI technology advances, it's becoming increasingly difficult to detect the source of content. The onus is on us to be more discerning and not fall for the tricks that AI can play on our perceptions. We shouldn't assume that something is AI-generated just because someone says it is.

It's essential to understand that AI is not a replacement for human creativity but rather a tool that can augment it. By recognizing the potential of AI and its limitations, we can work towards creating a future where human-made content is valued and respected. The anger and mistrust towards AI are understandable, but it's crucial to separate fact from fiction and not let our emotions cloud our judgment. We don't want to be overly critical of AI without considering its benefits and potential applications.

The next time you come across a piece of content that you think is AI-generated, take a step back and try to verify its source. It might just be a human-made masterpiece that's been misjudged due to the widespread anger towards AI. You shouldn't jump to conclusions without doing your research and considering multiple perspectives. It's always a good idea to fact-check information before sharing it or forming an opinion about it. By being more mindful of our assumptions and biases, we can create a more informed and nuanced discussion about the role of AI in our lives.