I finally did it. I tried
– an artificial intelligence program.
Yep, I jumped on the whole AI bandwagon. But before I get too far, I first have to say that every time I see the term “AI” being used, I think it is referring to my husband, Al. So confusing.
But anyway, I digress.
I have been against artificial intelligence, specifically ChatGPT, since its inception. I don’t like that photos can be manipulated into something that isn’t real. For example, one of the first times I saw someone use ChatGPT, it was on a vertical photo of someone sitting on a bench or something like that. With the AI program, the photo was manipulated and the original background was extended so that the photo looked like it had been taken horizontally instead.
Using ChatGPT changed the reality of what actually happened into something not real. And I truly don’t like that.
ChatGPT and other AI programs are distorting reality and they are also being used for things that were originally done by actual people. For instance, instead of using someone’s own creativity for designing a flyer, an AI program given certain prompts does the work instead. And I don’t like that either.
I know people who have had actual “conversations” with AI programs. And that, to me, is just flat out weird. Have a conversation with a real human being for goodness sake.
I get that I do actually use AI when asking my
what the forecast is or what the score is of a Twins or Vikings game, but for some reason I don’t feel it is the same.
I know I do use AI and probably have in more ways than I actually realize, but for some reason, ChatGPT and other similar or even more advanced programs are pushing the envelopes just a little too far for my liking.
But, like I said, I finally gave ChatGPT a try. And yep, I did it on a photo. Was it distorting reality? Maybe. Or was it actually just restoring the photo to the original? Also, maybe.
After my parents died in 2017, I found a photo from their wedding day on July 22, 1968. If I remember correctly, they were married by a justice of the peace in South Dakota. The photo I found was actually taken at the courthouse. I do have another photo of them from that day but it was a posed shot with a light colored background. That photo was still in really good shape.
An original photo of Celeste Edenloff’s parents, Red and Leona Schneider, on their wedding day, July 22, 1968.
However, the other was not. It was discolored, scratched and looks like something was spilled on it.
So, I took to ChatGPT and in the prompt, I wrote, “Restore this photo” and then uploaded the photo of my parents.
The result blew my mind. The new “enhanced” photo looked like it was taken yesterday. Well, maybe not yesterday. Their hairstyles and my mom’s outfit kind of gives it away that the photo was taken many years ago. Actually, nearly 60 years ago!
Regardless, I have to admit that the AI photo made me smile and I was actually a little giddy. And my siblings loved it, too. Of course, I had to share it with them. One of my brothers said, “Wow! Nice.” And I have to agree.
Did restoring that photo automatically change my mind on artificial intelligence programs? Nope, it didn’t. But it did make me realize that they can actually be used for something good.
I still do not like that the reality of photos can be distorted and changed into something fake. And I still don’t like that people are using them instead of using their own brain to create things they used to before AI came along.
So, will I use it again to restore some more photos? You bet. But, will I also be hyper critical and suspicious of photos on the internet that look a little too good or information on the internet that makes me question if it is for real or not. Definitely yes.
What are your thoughts on AI programs like ChatGPT? Have you or do you use them? Why? What for? Feel free to share your thoughts with me at cedenloff@echopress.com.
The “Our Turn” column rotates among members of the Echo Press editorial staff – Al Edenloff, editor and three reporters – Travis Gulbrandson, Lisa Johnson and Celeste Edenloff. These columns are the opinions of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Echo Press.