Following on from adventures with chatbots, SashaQ and Bluebottle explored AI Alt text descriptions of images, and AI image generation software. As expected, the results were fascinating, funny and frightening.

Bluebottle discovered that Microsoft Word has a function that can generate AI Alt text for images. SashaQ used AI image generator NightCafe to recreate various photos of birds from the AI Alt text. Here are the results.

'A Seagull on a Post' Photo setting generated a recognisable gull, but an imaginary sea breeze created a weird tuft of feathers on its head. The Epic setting generated an impressive photo of a gull with its wings outstretched - I wouldn't argue with that one if it said it wanted my fish and chips at the seaside!

'A Goose Standing on a Rock in a Marsh' Photo setting generated a white goose, rather than the Canada Goose that had been in the original photo, but it is indeed standing on a rock in a marsh. The Epic setting generated a goose that is recognisable as a Greylag (grey with an orange beak). The marsh is pretty, with bulrushes and waterlilies surrounding the rock.

The most impressive results were for 'A White Swan Swimming in Water'. The Photo setting could almost be a real photo of a real Mute Swan. The Epic setting generated a beautiful scene with a full moon shining on a lake surrounded by leafless trees. The only thing that spoils the scene is the swan's neck being curved in a disturbingly unnatural way.

SashaQ

07.10.24 Front Page

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