AI generated art and images have recently been a hot topic. Netizens asking for AI-generated images of Taiwan’s streets have gotten more than they bargained for, with resulting images containing a familiar chaos that some people don’t normally notice.
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Many can’t believe recent AI images of Taiwan aren’t real. They are made by prompting AI to produce a “Taiwan street scene.” At first glance, they faithfully capture the characteristics of Taiwan: disorderly signboards, electric wires, red hanging lanterns, and illegally parked cars and scooters.
In an internet group with more than a million followers, netizens posted the images they produced after prompting AI generators. While the atmosphere among the pictures was fairly consistent, the reactions to them were not.
Most people were impressed by how AI was able to replicate the typical features of a Taiwan street scene, such as objects haphazardly placed on sidewalks and messily hung air conditioning units. Others laughed or were upset with how the images depicted the chaos of Taiwan’s streets in an unfiltered, and to some, unflattering way.
Many locals said that in everyday life, they didn’t pay much attention to the chaotic nature of their streets. When looked at side by side, the AI pictures and real photographs are nearly indistinguishable, forcing many to view Taiwan in a new light.
However, other eagle-eyed viewers pointed out errors, such as the unintelligible writing, three street lines instead of two, or long rows of triple parked cars. They say these flaws create a feeling of unease known as the “uncanny valley.”
While feelings are mixed, the amazing images capture the charming chaos of Taiwan and continue the discussion of how AI graphics technology is evolving beyond our expectations.
