Google's artificial intelligence tools for creating and editing images: Creativity raises concerns

In the accelerating world of technology, Google stands on the brink of a new revolution in the field of smartphones and artificial intelligence. With the launch of a series of phones Pixel 9 Recently, the company introduced a set of innovative AI-based tools for creating and editing images. But these tools, despite their creativity, have raised serious concerns about their potential for misuse and their impact on the authenticity of images in this digital age.

Pixel Studio is a controversial photo creation tool

One of the most notable new additions to the Pixel 9 phones is the Pixel Studio feature. This app, designed to create stickers and photos using text commands, is very similar to the Image Playground feature that Apple plans to launch in iOS 18. However, the capabilities of the Pixel Studio go beyond just creating cute photos. For cats, rabbits and buildings.

Alarming possibilities

Reviewers have been able to create a wide range of controversial images with Pixel Studio. For example:

◉ A Nazi version of SpongeBob.

◉ Pictures of Elmo holding an AK47 rifle.

◉ Famous cartoon characters in inappropriate situations involving drugs and alcohol.

◉ Pictures of violent situations such as school shootings.

Although Pixel Studio does not automatically create these types of images, the ability to easily produce them on demand raises serious concerns about the potential for abuse of this technology.

In this advertising video, we see Google encouraging you to create images to poke fun at your friends.

Google's response to criticism

In an attempt to address these concerns, Google said it has put in place “security checks” to prevent Pixel Studio from being used “maliciously.” These procedures include:

◉ Prevent the creation of images of real people.

◉ Modify the AI ​​in response to reviews and criticism.

◉ Prohibiting the creation of images of cartoon characters using drugs or wearing German soldier uniforms.

“Reimagine” tool edits images with amazing realism

Along with the Pixel Studio app, Google has introduced the “Reimagine” tool, which allows users to add elements to already existing photos. This tool, which is even more disturbing than Pixel Studio, has the ability to:

◉ Add highly realistic elements to photos, such as corpses, bombs, drugs, disasters and accidents.

◉ Accurately match lighting and perspective to the original image.

◉ Producing modified images that are difficult to distinguish from real images.

Look at the image above, on the left is the original real image and on the right is the image modified by Reimagine's AI tool. The matter goes beyond that, as you can place drugs and alcohol next to a person whom people trust or a trusted scholar, thus arousing temptation like pieces of a dark night.

The realism of Reimagine images raises serious concerns about the authenticity of images on social media and the Internet. Although Google adds a metadata tag to edited images, it can be easily removed by taking a screenshot.

Positive side: huge creative potential

Despite the concerns surrounding these tools, it is important to note their positive and creative potential. Pixel Studio and Reimagine can be used to create fun and creative images, such as:

◉ Add sunset and rainbow to photos.

◉ Create images of Oreo pizza.

◉ Filming a giraffe surfing the waves.

◉ Create pictures of kittens playing basketball.

What distinguishes Google's new tools is their ease of use and speed of image production. While creating complex or modified images previously required advanced skills in programs like Photoshop and a lot of time, now it just takes an idea and a few seconds with the new Pixel phones.

Google position and feedback

In its official statements, Google confirmed that it designed its AI tools to “respect the intent of user prompts,” or respect the intent of user prompts. This means understanding the essence of what they want and providing a useful response, even if the request is not literally actionable. . This requires focusing on the user's primary goal, offering alternative solutions when necessary, while maintaining the spirit of the original request. This approach promotes effective communication and improves user experience in interactions with AI systems.

This may lead to the creation of “offensive” content when requested by the user.

However, the company confirms that there are “Terms of Service” that define what content is not permitted, and that it will continue to improve these safeguards.

Future outlook: Challenges facing technology companies

As Apple gets closer to launching its own photo creation tools, like Image Playground and Genmoji, reactions to the Pixel 9 launch offer insight into the challenges companies may face in this area. Users will likely be able to find ways to circumvent these guarantees that companies offer to not create an offensive submission, no matter how strict.

Conclusion: An uncertain future for digital images

With the advancement of artificial intelligence technologies in image creation and editing, we are on the cusp of a new era in digital photography. While Apple has so far avoided creating photorealistic images using AI, Google is moving strongly in this direction.

This development raises fundamental questions about the future and credibility of digital images. How will we be able to distinguish between real and fake images? What are the social and ethical implications of these technologies? How can technology companies balance innovation and social responsibility?

Ultimately, it seems that trusting images on social media and the Internet will become more difficult in the near future, requiring increased awareness from users and the development of new tools to verify the authenticity of digital content.

Source:

macrumors