Shocking : eminent travel magazine uses AI image on cover

[Irene McC]

Getaway Magazine, South Africa's premier outdoor and travel magazine that prides itself on showcasing great photography, has used an AI generated image for their cover shot

Getaway publishes AI image on its cover, sparking controversy - TechCentral

Getaway magazine has published an AI-generated image of the world-famous Blyde River Canyon on its front cover - apparently by mistake.

techcentral.co.za

 

[JayOC]

I think we are going to see a lot more of that. When you consider the AI features being built into processing software what Getaway did is just a natural extension. Let’s look at what is already available. If you don’t like the sky in an image, replace it with a few clicks of a mouse. If you take a photo on your phone and someone is in the frame, with the right phone you can remove them on the phone. You don’t need a computer (other than your phone).

I think what it is going to come down to is the ethics / integrity of an organization or individual. If people were to start canceling subscriptions and letting the magazine know why, then they may change their behavior. But probably not.

 

[Richard]

When a traditional newspaper makes a mistake, the convention (perhaps the law) is that they issue a correction or apology when the mistake is recognised. Sometimes it takes legal action before that happens. In any case, the outcome is that the newspaper has to make the correction as prominent as the original mistake - they can't hide it in the small print if it was a headline on the front page.

In this case the magazine should have a big notice on the front cover of the next issue saying "Sorry, we unwittingly posted an AI image here last month and passed it off as a photograph. We will be more careful in future".

-R

 

[JayOC]

When a traditional newspaper makes a mistake, the convention (perhaps the law) is that they issue a correction or apology when the mistake is recognised. Sometimes it takes legal action before that happens. In any case, the outcome is that the newspaper has to make the correction as prominent as the original mistake - they can't hide it in the small print if it was a headline on the front page.

In this case the magazine should have a big notice on the front cover of the next issue saying "Sorry, we unwittingly posted an AI image here last month and passed it off as a photograph. We will be more careful in future".

-R

I doubt if they could say with a straight face they unwittingly used an AI image on the cover. Unless who ever generated the image did not tell the editors what they had done.

 

[Richard]

That's exactly what they are saying, according to the article linked earlier:

"According to Ryan Vrede, head of motoring and travel at Habari Media, which owns and publishes Getaway, the image was used “in good faith” that it was indeed a real photograph."

-R

 

[Irene McC]

They got it off Shutterstock from a user who has only been registered to the site for two months and has populated his gallery with all sorts of very AI looking images (I've gone to have a look)

The thing is that this is a South African travel and outdoor magazine that should certainly double check an image before going to print. All local landscape photographers love that particular canyon and there are a myriad of great photos available. The local photographers called out the topography looking nothing like the actual location. The magazine editor definitely should be aware of such blatant fakeness.

 

[Kevin]

Not being familiar with the magazine, I'm just a little surprised that a travel magazine was relying on Shutterstock instead of having standing relationships with photographers.

 

[Rick Waldroup]

Not being familiar with the magazine, I'm just a little surprised that a travel magazine was relying on Shutterstock instead of having standing relationships with photographers.

Rightly or wrongly, a decision like this by the magazine probably had everything to do with saving money.

 

[Irene McC]

Rightly or wrongly, a decision like this by the magazine probably had everything to do with saving money.

Yes hundred percent correct

 

[Irene McC]

Not being familiar with the magazine, I'm just a little surprised that a travel magazine was relying on Shutterstock instead of having standing relationships with photographers.

Exactly!

 

[Irene McC]

This is an award winning photographer and marine conservation photographer and pilot - here's his Facebook comment on the situation

Jean Tresfon

Back in its heyday, Getaway Magazine was the gold standard in South African travel magazines. The photography was simply incredible and a subscription to this awesome publication was a real treat....

www.facebook.com

 

[Mr_Flibble]

Generative AI is just adding more E-waste. The energy requirements of the data-centers to run all the AI stuff is just making sure we're destroying the planet a little faster than planned.

Afraid AI is here to stay. But I am not interested in ever using it myself.

 

[OCBeyer]

Getaway Magazine, South Africa's premier outdoor and travel magazine that prides itself on showcasing great photography, has used an AI generated image for their cover shot

Getaway publishes AI image on its cover, sparking controversy - TechCentral

Getaway magazine has published an AI-generated image of the world-famous Blyde River Canyon on its front cover - apparently by mistake.

techcentral.co.za

It is so obviously artificial.