The image's popularity is attributed to its depiction of a past that no longer exists, such as public smoking and 80s fashion. However, many viewers did not initially recognize it as AI-generated due to its low-stakes nature. The article warns that this won't be the last fake image created using generative AI to go viral, especially with consequential events like the U.S. presidential election approaching.
Key takeaways:
- A viral photo of a man smoking in a McDonald's in the 1980s is actually a fake image created using generative AI.
- There are several telltale signs that the image is AI-generated, including unusually long fingers, nonsensical branding on a cup, and a background figure with distorted features.
- The image went viral because it depicts a version of the past that no longer exists, such as smoking in public places, which was phased out in the U.S. to protect public health.
- This incident highlights how easily people can be fooled by AI-generated images, especially when the stakes are low and the image doesn't seem to be of significant importance.