Artists Boris Eldagsen and Miles Astray challenge Joan Fontcuberta’s recent book, arguing that equating AI-generated imagery with traditional photography undermines the evidentiary value and democratic importance of visual documentation.
Key Points
- Joan Fontcuberta’s book Immagini Latenti suggests that AI-generated images are a "second-generation" evolution of photography, sharing a common lineage with camera-based work.
- Boris Eldagsen and Miles Astray contend that photography relies on light hitting a sensor, whereas AI relies on statistical inference, making them fundamentally different processes.
- The authors argue that labeling AI outputs as "photography" creates dangerous confusion, as AI lacks the physical connection to reality required for documentary evidence.
- Eldagsen and Astray emphasize that institutions must maintain clear distinctions between captured images and synthetic generation to preserve public trust and accountability.
- The debate follows high-profile incidents where AI-generated images were submitted to photography competitions, exposing a lack of clear industry standards for verification.