How to spot Al-generated automotive images and videos

And why it's important

- By INIGO S. ROCES

THIS PICTURE is AI-generated, not a real car being tied down for the storm ahead.

No doubt you’ve already heard about Artificial Intelligence (AI) and all of its potential applications in today’s world. Al is found in nearly everything these days from virtual assistants like Siri and Google Assistant, to part of your web search results, and even built into your phone to automatically edit your photos for the best result.

Easily the most controversial application of Al is using it to create simulated art, music, photos, and even videos that are nearly indistinguishable from those created by actual people. This Al-generated content is called ‘AI Slop’ because of the sheer volume of this content, often with no real redeeming value besides entertainment. No surprise then that AI Slop has begun invading the automotive world too.

Al automotive slop

Have you been seeing photos in social media of the next Toyota Hilux, just days after the updated one was just announced? How about the next Audi R8, Rolls-Royce, or Lamborghini? Granted, some of these may possibly be real, but a greater majority of these ‘new models’ and ‘leaked photos’ could actually be fake.

Spotting clues

We'll go over some ways to spot these Al-generated photos so you can more easily spot real from fake and avoid the hype. With this knowledge, you can hopefully avoid calling your nearest dealer and place a reservation on a car that doesn’t exist.

Perfect focus and color