Trust, Artificial Intelligence–Generated Images, and Health Communication Policy

Artificial intelligence (AI)–influenced images are everywhere. AI is affecting what people see and how they see it. It supports edits in commonly used software, including Adobe products, Google Photos, and Canva. It also enables users to translate text to images through standalone apps such as Midjourney and DALL-E. AI is not only appearing everywhere but is rapidly evolving. As a result, AI-generated photorealistic images are becoming more difficult to tell from “organic” photos. These technologies create opportunities for health care communicators to improve the availability and quality of visuals to support health communication. However, limitations exist. Understanding opportunities and limitations enables health communicators to influence and craft policies that help their teams and organizations optimize communication that is vitally needed for public and individual health.