Jos Avery, a photographer who has acquired a considerable following of nearly 35,000 on Instagram, has confessed that his portraits are, in fact, generated through AI photography tools. Avery has been publishing his impressive “photographs” since October of last year and has duped his audience into believing that they are authentic portraits, even describing the camera equipment he employs, specifically, a Nikon D810 with a 24-70mm lens. The AI fraud scandal involving a popular Instagram photographer highlights the potential pitfalls and ethical concerns surrounding the use of artificial intelligence in creative fields.
How is AI used for fraud?
Avery revealed to Ars Technica that his goal was to deceive people, reasoning that if makeup and cosmetic surgery go undisclosed in photographs, and commercial fashion photos undergo significant Photoshopping, then why not fabricate portraits through AI? The compliments Avery has received from his Instagram followers have made him proud, causing him to revel in his deceitful act.
One sincere photographer left a comment on Avery’s Instagram page, expressing their gratitude for the daily inspiration that Avery’s exceptional portraiture provides. The photographer shared that they stop and take a prolonged gaze at Avery’s posts, reflecting and undoubtedly learning something from each one.
However, instead of confessing that his portraits are fraudulent, Avery responded with a simple expression of appreciation, saying, “Thank you so much for taking the time to share your thoughts. Your kind words are deeply appreciated.”
Avery seems to have a standard practice of replying to almost every comment he receives, thanking the individuals for their flattering comments and neglecting the minority who expose that his portraits are artificially created.
His elusive responses even extend to denying the truth when individuals ask for specific details. For example, when someone asks what camera he uses, Avery provides a vague answer: “I shoot Nikons.”
He even plays around with his followers when asked about his bokeh creation process, teasing them with the possibility of recording his workflow. Avery shares, “I often composite and use post-blurring. I should record the process one of these days.” One of his followers responds, “You’re one of those rare breeds who genuinely takes the time to respond to every comment. Mighty kind of you.”
Furthermore, Avery deceives his followers with his hashtags. He fills them with photo descriptors like #blackandwhitephotography, #portrait, and #portraitphotography, amongst others. Although he does occasionally use #AI or #digitalart, they become obscured amongst the many hashtags used by legitimate photographers.
How to get AI-Generated Portraits?
Avery has come clean to Ars Technica and confessed to his deception, admitting that only a tiny fraction of his followers – likely 5% or less – realize the truth. However, he also expresses his conflicted emotions, saying that while his original intention was to use his AI-generated portraits to showcase the capabilities of AI and write an article about it, he has since found that it has become a true artistic outlet for him, and his views on the matter have shifted.
Avery has revealed that he has used his AI system, Midjourney, to generate around 14,000 images for his nearly 180 posts. He explains that he has to generate around 85 images to get one that is usable, and he cancels at least as many failed attempts. Once he gets an image he can work with, he edits it in Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop, which he believes still qualifies him as an artist.
According to Avery, it takes a lot of effort to take the AI-generated elements and create an image that looks like it was taken by a human photographer. He argues that the creative process still largely rests in the hands of the artist or photographer, not the computer.
Final thoughts
The revelation of a popular Instagram photographer being an AI fraud raises questions about the authenticity of art in the age of technology. While some may argue that the end result is what matters, others may feel that the deceit undermines the value of genuine human creativity and skill. As AI technology continues to advance, it is important to have a critical perspective on its role in the art world and to appreciate the unique contributions that only human artists can bring.
