Detection of Images Generated by Artificial Intelligence, Literacy Visual and Disinformation

The rapid advances in generative artificial intelligence (AI) in image generation in recent years pose a challenge when it comes to detecting and identifying artificially generated synthetic images. Through a comparative study between two selected groups of individuals (one with a higher level of visual literacy than the other) to whom we showed two images, one real and one generated using AI, we obtained results that demonstrate the real difficulty both groups have demonstrated, regardless of their level of visual literacy, in correctly detecting the origin of the images. The degree of realism in images created by AI is such that those with a higher level of visual literacy also have trouble distinguishing between the real image and the synthetic one. We conclude that visual literacy is still necessary, but in the current context, it may be insufficient. It would be advisable to integrate greater digital and media skills, as well as visual literacy that integrates new strategies related to new technologies, helping to detect the misinformation that the misuse of artificial intelligence can generate.