Why Are AI Generated Videos So Creepy?
Entertainment
Introduction
In recent years, artificial intelligence has made huge strides, particularly in the realm of generative art. One such phenomenon is AI-generated videos, which have become increasingly popular but also unsettling for many viewers. But what exactly is it about these videos that evokes such discomfort? Let's explore this topic, beginning with an unusual image that sparked a viral internet phenomena.
The Unsettling Image
In 2019, an image circulated across social media that baffled viewers. This image, created using an AI tool known as Artbreeder, presented an amalgamation of different images that formed an incoherent visual. It resembled the features of various objects, such as a bear's head or plastic bags, but lacked any distinct, recognizable identity. Viewers found the image uncomfortable and surreal, likening the experience of viewing it to having a stroke—your eyes perceive images, but your brain fails to process them coherently.
The Evolution of AI Image Generation
Artbreeder was one of the early examples of an AI-based image generator. As technology advanced, newer and more sophisticated image generators like DALL-E, MidJourney, and Stable Diffusion came onto the scene. While these generators initially produced odd and unsettling images, they soon transitioned into creating clearer, albeit somewhat bland, pictures that fit a familiar style. By the 2020s, AI-generated images had penetrated mainstream culture, with many people experimenting with these tools. However, many began to perceive these images as monotonous, lacking the individuality and character of traditional human-created art.
As of June 12, 2024, Luma Labs released an innovative AI called Dream Machine, which is capable of creating videos. Yet, these videos elicited a sense of dread rather than fascination—what is it about AI-generated videos that feels so unnatural?
The Nature of Unease
Many people across the internet have shared this feeling of discomfort when viewing AI-generated videos. The experience is not merely creepy in a traditional horror sense; it's a deeper sense of dread that often goes unexamined. The unsettling quality of these videos is often attributed to a phenomenon known as “The Uncanny Valley.”
The Uncanny Valley theory posits a relationship between how human-like a robot or anthropomorphic figure appears and the emotional responses elicited in humans. As representations become increasingly human-like, they can evoke empathy. However, there comes a tipping point where something appears almost human but has slight imperfections, causing feelings of fear and disgust instead. AI videos, particularly those that depict human figures with unnatural movements or expressions, often fall into this uncanny zone.
Deep-rooted Instincts
The unsettling sensation elicited by such videos may be linked to evolutionary psychology. It raises the possibility that AI-generated videos resonate with a long-preserved instinctive fear that humans have regarding predators who disguise themselves. Throughout history, predators have employed mimicry to lure prey, leading to this ingrained wariness of “something off” in appearances.
Legends surrounding shape-shifting creatures, such as the Wendigo in Native American folklore or the Skinwalker, illustrate our collective unease about the unknown. These stories echo our primal fear of deception in appearances, and it’s conceivable that AI videos are triggering similar instincts buried deep within our psyche.
The Dream-Like Quality
Interestingly, the peculiarity of AI-generated videos often parallels the qualities found in dreams. Many have noticed that AI videos resemble the haphazard yet vivid nature of dreams, where things appear real but lack coherence upon closer examination. This blurry delineation between reality and illusion augments the discomfort often felt when viewing AI-generated content.
Furthermore, the computational nature of AI-generated videos might fuel this discomfort. Unlike human artists who employ thought, creativity, and experience, AI lacks genuine understanding or judgment. When an AI processes prompts to generate scenes, it’s simply regurgitating and remixing existing data without any comprehension of reality. The result is a representation that can look eerily close to life yet miss the mark in obscure but discomforting ways.
Motion and Memorable Horror
Finally, the dynamic nature of videos enhances the chilling effect. Motion lends a greater sense of immersion and increased empathy and context that static images simply cannot deliver. This deeper examination allows viewers to scrutinize what lies beneath, exposing an unsettling truth in AI creations that leads to discomfort.
In conclusion, the pervasive creepiness of AI-generated videos stems from various factors, including The Uncanny Valley, deep-rooted evolutionary instincts, the dream-like qualities of the visuals, and the distinct nature of moving images. As the technology continues to evolve, the question remains: what will the future hold for the realm of AI-generated art?
Keywords
- AI
- Uncanny Valley
- Evolutionary instincts
- Generative art
- Motion
- Dreams
- Discomfort
FAQ
Why do AI-generated videos feel creepy?
AI-generated videos appear almost human but lack some natural elements, which can evoke feelings of discomfort. This discomfort is explained by The Uncanny Valley theory, where something that is nearly indistinguishable from a human can provoke fear or disgust.
What is The Uncanny Valley?
The Uncanny Valley is a theory that highlights the relationship between how human-like something appears and the emotions it evokes. When something looks almost human but isn't quite right, it can trigger feelings of eeriness rather than empathy.
How does evolution relate to the fear of AI-generated videos?
Some researchers suggest that our discomfort is rooted in evolutionary psychology, where humans may have developed a wariness toward creatures that disguise themselves as humans in order to hunt them.
Can AI-generated videos resemble dreams?
Many people find that AI-generated videos have a dream-like quality, where the imagery appears real yet lacks coherence, paralleling the way dreams often function.
What makes AI-generated videos different from AI-generated images?
Videos tend to evoke a stronger emotional response and a deeper sense of unease due to motion, which provides added context and immersion that static images lack.