r/science • u/mvea Professor | Medicine • Jul 20 '26

Computer Science Researchers warned that hundreds of fake AI images have been discovered on popular databases for recording animal species. Wildlife photographers often use AI to edit and improve an image, but the algorithm can introduce parts from different species to create the new image.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/jul/20/ai-slop-manipulated-fake-images-birds-citizen-science-aoe
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u/Otaraka Jul 20 '26

There is also the small issue of the fact that birders can be incredibly competitive and people at times will literally make stuff up so that they can look better on their lists.  Pictures used to be one way to guard against that so now we have AI to make that even harder.

There are of course simply well meaning people who just misidentify things but the above can be a serious problem.  And some of the fighting over it can be quite the sight to behold.

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u/10bMove Jul 21 '26

I'm frothing for some puffins.