• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Experts are worried after people fall for incredibly realistic AI-generated image of The Pope

Home> Technology

Published 06:11 27 Mar 2023 GMT+1

Experts are worried after people fall for incredibly realistic AI-generated image of The Pope

One expert warned that the inability to distinguish fake photos would rapidly spread misinformation online.

Charisa Bossinakis

Charisa Bossinakis

Experts are worried after the internet believed an AI-generated image of Pope Francis was really him.

The AI program Midjourney was used to create the image of His Holiness, which was first shared on a Reddit page honoring AI-generated art.

In the viral pic, the Catholic Church leader can be seen wearing an oversized white puffer and bejeweled crucifix.

I mean, the Pope looks less likely to lead a sermon and more likely to step out on the slopes with the Kardashians in the Hamptons.

Advert

Slay Fray!

As the faux image began racking up millions of views, many were in disbelief it wasn’t a real shot.

One person wrote: “It’s crazy how realistic this looks.”

Advert

Another said: “Wtf?? I actually thought this was real for so long....”

While a third shared: “IT WAS MADE WITH AI HOLY SH**T.”

However, in the wake of our eyes deceiving us, experts are worried about where we're headed in the future.

And, spoiler alert, we’re doomed.

Advert

No, that’s a tad dramatic, but we should be concerned about our inability to distinguish fake photos.

Henry Ajder, AI expert and presenter of the BBC radio series The Future Will be Synthesised, told i that AI technology had developed at a ‘lighting speed’.

Advert

Thankfully in this example there are some inconsistencies that can be spotted in this image, including the Pope’s hand holding the water bottle, which, according to Ajder, looks like a ‘glitchy mess’.

While programs such as OpenAI and Midjourney are working on having better safety restrictions to inform viewers of fake images, Ajders said we still need to be wary.

He added: “Some of these images are already very, very hard to determine whether they are real or not. It gives us a sense of how bad actors, agents spreading disinformation, could weaponise these tools, particularly as some of the flaws in the current model start to be trained out and disappear.”

Dr Mhairi Aitken, ethics fellow at the Alan Turing Institute, also shared a similar sentiment, adding this could lead to a deeper pool of issues, including disseminating misinformation.

Advert

She said: “It could be images of the war in Ukraine, and if those are contested as being potentially fake, it significantly changes the narrative.

"That significantly changes what people believe to be true, and has implications for political positions and democratic processes.”

So the next time you're perusing on the internet, have a closer look, folks!

Featured Image Credit: Reddit/Midjourney/trippy_art_specia

Topics: News, Social Media, Pope Francis, Technology

Charisa Bossinakis
Charisa Bossinakis

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

a day ago
3 days ago
5 days ago
  • a day ago

    Important reason why you should blur your house on Google Maps

    One Redditor claimed they'd taken the plunge after a 'number of break-ins and incidents'

    Technology
  • 3 days ago

    Expert gives step-by-step on how to survive the first 24 hours of a nuclear bomb attack amid WW3 fears

    Searches for 'WW3' have spiked amid the conflict between Israel, Iran and the US

    Technology
  • 3 days ago

    Expert shares stark warning to the US after Iran-linked hackers carried out Truth Social cyberattack

    Hackers aligned with Iran claimed responsibility for a cyberattack on the Trump-founded social media channel

    Technology
  • 5 days ago

    Shocking images reveal last thing NASA spacecraft saw before plunging into Saturn's atmosphere

    The NASA spacecraft, known as Cassini, captured some incredible images before plunging into Saturn

    Technology
  • World leaders slammed after people spotted ‘disrespectful’ act during Pope Francis’ funeral
  • Special meaning behind Pope Francis’ simple headstone as first images of tomb are released
  • People mind-blown as Pope Leo's brother reveals what the first American pope does in his spare time
  • Pope Leo gave terrifying warning about future of AI as he urged Church to 'stand up for workers’ rights'