We’ve all seen it: people using ChatGPT, Gemini, and other AI tools to enhance their pictures, making them appear more authentic and attractive. But have we really considered the consequences? Most of the time, we don’t. These days, we see AI generated images and videos flooding our social media. Recently, I came across a clip by influencer Bhanu Pathak talking about the risk of uploading images on AI tools. He criticized the practice, calling it unethical, creepy, and unsafe. He warned that AI companies could keep personal data of users.
The situation became even more alarming when one instagram user shared her experience of using AI to enhance her photo. She discovered something disturbing: a photo where she was fully sleeve was transformed by AI into a sleeveless version. Not only that, the AI even replicated a mole on her right hand. Shockingly, she confirmed that she actually does have a mole in the same spot in real life.
Dipayan Ghosh, who writes about cyber security, explains AI can generate images of real people without consent, posing a serious privacy risk.
“It allows anyone to alter photos and create false scenarios, making it appear as though someone did something they never actually did.”
To detect if an image is AI-generated or not, Ghosh suggests using reverse image search to trace the source of the picture. “Be mindful about what you share online, and avoid believing every photo you come across on social media,” he adds, while urging people to use AI tools responsibly and ethically.
Osmond Chia, a technology reporter at The Straits Times, has written a piece on OpenAI facing several lawsuits, including one from The New York Times, for using the paper’s content without permission to train AI models. In response, OpenAI argued that the data was publicly accessible and therefore permissible for research purposes.
While non-commercial ChatGPT users may not face direct copyright issues, Chia also noted that “freely uploading personal photos onto the platform still carries significant risks, particularly concerning privacy and misuse of data.”
The advent of AI has also impacted the creative world. Legendary Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki has called the technology “an insult to life itself.” He argued that though faster, AI cannot come close to the artistry and soul found in the works of creative minds.
Shristi Prajapati, a tattoo and visual artist, understands where Miyazaki is coming from. She says AI art has taken over so much of the space that once belonged to human hands and hearts.
“While artists like us spend hours mixing colors, shaping ideas, and pouring emotion into every detail, AI can replicate something similar in mere seconds. It’s painful to watch years of practice, love, and identity getting pushed aside.”
For centuries, art has been a sacred expression—not just a product for sale. Even when artists didn’t make money, they created to preserve beauty, truth, culture, and emotion. Now, they are up against machines that don’t feel, don’t struggle, don’t dream.
Still, despite the pressure and the heartbreak, artists like Prajapati continue. “I believe there are still people who recognize the difference, who still value the human touch,” she says.
Visual artist Rudrakshya Man Pradhan expresses similar sentiment. He says that AI should remain as a tool for inspiration, not a replacement for genuine expression. “It is essential to teach people the true value of art, so that society learns to see beyond surface-level images and appreciate the stories, emotions, and individuality only human hands can create,” he adds.
But not everyone sees AI art as a threat. Sajira Shrestha, 26, says as long as you know what you are doing, AI can be a fun experimenting platform. “I don’t think it will hurt anyone as long as you are using AI for fun stuff. But at the same time, I don’t discount the harm it can do in the wrong hands.”
Pradhan says despite concerns surrounding AI technology, it is impossible to escape its presence and we must learn to live with it.
“We know that AI always depends on prompts and borrowed data, while human art emerges from individuality and authenticity. So, I see that the future lies in balancing tradition with technology, and fostering awareness of art’s true value..”
The craze over AI images reflects both the excitement and the dangers of new technology. While AI can produce quick, attractive, and trendy results, it also raises serious questions about privacy, ethics, and the future of human creativity. For artists, it poses the painful risk of being overshadowed, yet it also offers opportunities if used wisely as a tool for inspiration.
To safeguard creativity, society needs to value authentic art, educate younger generations about its deeper meaning, and use AI responsibly. In the end, the true challenge lies in striking a balance—embracing technology without losing sight of the human touch that makes art sacred. Prajapati aptly says: “Handmade art holds imperfections, emotions, and stories that no AI can ever truly replicate.”
