Online images of the pope donning a white puffy jacket have gone viral, but they are artificially made. Nonetheless, the image’s popularity underscores the increasing difficulty of identifying AI-generated fakes from reality.

While artificial intelligence-generated images have gone viral in the past, none have traveled as much as the image of the pope in his swaggering garment. The image was released online for the first time on Friday and soon went viral on social media before being discredited as a hoax.

But, the image’s realism has revealed the difficulty of recognizing AI-generated forgeries. The aesthetic created by hyperrealism in AI photographs are characterized by flawless lighting and glossy surfaces, dramatic stances, and rich colors. If AI continues to advance, it will become more difficult to discriminate between visuals made by AI and actuality.

The popularity of the image of the swaggering pope is but a foretaste of the new reality we are entering, in which AI-generated forgeries are becoming increasingly plausible and prevalent. As this trend continues, it will be crucial to create new ways and technology to detect and counteract artificial intelligence-generated forgeries.

In conclusion, the popularity of the image of the swagged-out pope illustrates the increasing difficulty of identifying AI-generated fakes from the actual thing. As AI continues to advance, this difficulty will only intensify, emphasizing the necessity for constant innovation and attention in the fight against AI-generated forgeries.