Do AI-generated images have any place in Australian politics?
An apparently AI-generated image of a whale posted on social media by state Liberal MP Roma Britnell. (Supplied: Roma Britnell)
In short:
A Victorian state politician has used an apparently AI-generated image of a whale in a social media post marking the start of the whale-watching season along Victoria's south-west coast.
It has raised questions about whether politicians should be using AI-generated work at the expense of local artists, and whether it could erode public trust.
What's next?
The Australian and Victorian Electoral Commissions have AI guidelines for politicians and candidates around elections, but there are concerns about its use by politicians in general.
It's a picture of a humpback whale, leaping out of the water, its three or possibly four fins glistening in the glowing orange sunset.
The apparently AI-generated image was posted on the Facebook page of Liberal member for South West Coast Roma Britnell to mark the arrival of the first southern right whales of whale-watching season in her state electorate.
While it may not be in the same realm as US President Donald Trump posting pictures of himself as the pope, a king or even Jesus Christ, the creation and sharing of the anatomically incorrect whale image has raised a serious question.
Should politicians be dabbling with AI-generated imagery at all?
Humpback whales have two pectoral fins. (Supplied: Jodie Lowe's Marine Animal Photography)
'Sloppy, rushed, unauthentic'
ANU political marketing expert Andrew Hughes said there was an increased amount of AI-generated content in political messaging because it was a cheap, quick, and easy way to put out eye-grabbing, visual content.
Dr Hughes said poorly executed content could damage the reputation of a public figure.
"It's sloppy, it looks as though you rushed it, it looks like you're taking advantage of an opportunity, and it doesn't come across as authentic and real,"he said.
The perils of using AI-generated images have hit Australian news headlines in recent weeks, with a viral social media campaign protesting changes to the federal government's capital gains tax shown to be misleading.
Dr Hughes said this was an example of social media users inadvertently becoming caught up in a disinformation campaign by sharing the post with false claims.
"You have to be careful, and you have to make sure the information you're using is accurate," he said.
Andrew Hughes says politicians using generated images can erode public trust. (ABC News: David Sciasci)
Dr Hughes said the public would have a right to wonder why a politician was not providing work for a local artist or photographer, or using their own photos.
"That's the question people will be asking themselves — if you're from the local community, why aren't you helping your local community?" he said.
"You've got a camera in your pocket. Take a snap when you're out and about, and people will love you for it because that's the real you, and that's what we love seeing.
"Real life images say a lot in politics."
AI fails human connection test
Gareth Colliton is an artist and the head of creative organisation One Day Studios in Warrnambool, which is in Ms Britnell's electorate.
Mr Colliton said generative AI took opportunities away from local artists, and that a politician making an effort to hire a local photographer to use their work for a fee would land better with audiences.
"I've seen some really amazing photos of whales breaching around here," he said.
"If it had been those photos, it would have had a whole different conversation — it would've been shared a lot more and had much better results for that politician."
Mr Colliton said he could understand the use of AI to quickly create content for social media, but he did not believe it was the best tactic.
"You're doing yourself an injustice when you use AI," he said.
"It cheapens your brand … it loses its impact, and it becomes a bit of a joke, and that's part of why we dismiss it.
"An AI machine can do a vague copy of what a human has made, but it can't get the human connection."
A surfer enjoys an encounter with a southern right whale along Warrnambool's coast. (Supplied: Robin Sharrock)
Why go AI?
Ms Britnell's apparent AI image, which is of a humpback whale and not a southern right whale, might seem innocent, but it was accompanied by a political message.
The post referenced a pledge that the Victorian Liberal Party would not support offshore wind development in the Southern Ocean, citing concerns for the marine environment and whale species.
There was no disclaimer regarding the origin of the image and whether it was made by AI.
Roma Britnell has held the South-West Coast seat for the Liberal Party since 2015. (Supplied)
When asked whether the image was AI, Roma Britnell told the ABC she did not know because a staff member had posted it.
But she said she had seen the image and said: "It looked like a whale to me."
"I'm nearly 60 years old and not that au fait with AI,"she said.
She said her office did not have funding to pay for a photographer's work.
Ms Britnell's other social media posts often included genuine photos taken by herself or her team while interacting with constituents.
Political AI guidelines
Federal and state electoral commissions have introduced guidelines around the use of AI in political campaigns, but there are no guardrails around the everyday use of AI-generated imagery and material outside of elections.
The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) guidelines say that there is no requirement for political parties or campaigners to disclose that they are using a manipulated image, or that an image has been manipulated.
The AEC guidelines say politicians may choose to disclose when an AI tool has been used by including a simple message in the image.
At a state level, the Victorian Electoral Commission said campaigners were expected to clearly label content that had been created by or modified with AI, as well as properly authorise all material.
SES AI post 'a bit of fun'
Ms Britnell's post was not the only apparently AI-generated picture that has attracted attention in regional Victoria.
While not political, a Victorian SES unit's social media post, which featured an AI-generated image, attracted a divided response from the community, highlighting mixed attitudes about such faux photos.
The Castlemaine SES branch created and posted this AI-generated image that depicts volunteer crews responding to a call-out. (Supplied: Castlemaine SES)
Some commenters on the Castlemaine SES post made jokes about the generated image, while others questioned why the unit did not use a real photograph of volunteers at a scene.
The image was clearly labelled as AI-generated, and the unit often posted real photographs of crews on scene.
Deputy controller Bert Forbes said the AI-generated image posted in November last year was used because volunteers did not have time to take a photo like they usually would.
"Since one of our members was experimenting with AI imagery at the time, it seemed like a bit of fun to go ahead and post up something that was clearly not real and over the top," Mr Forbes said.
He said the post did not seek to deceive audiences.
"It might look like a poster for an upcoming action movie," Mr Forbes said.
"It's not real; it's not something we'd normally post up."
Mr Forbes said AI use was not part of the unit's social media strategy.
"For our unit, the real photographs and the real people are the real heroes,"he said.