Fort Collins Digital Camera Club

You are invited to join us on ZOOM for the "Synthetic Photography SIG". I expect that this will be a controversial SIG as the topic of AI generated art seems to polarize people into 2 camps, they either love the concept that now they can make beautiful art or they hate the idea that "unskilled" people can make better art than they can. I am sure that we will have different views, but I hope that we can get along and respect everyone's views. I want to expand the focus of the Synthetic Photography SIG to include other image editing tools and techniques while maintaining our main focus on AI tools and techniques.

"I Disapprove of What You Say, But I Will Defend to the Death Your Right to Say It" - Evelyn Beatrice Hall (not Voltaire)

ATTENDEES
Mike Barry
Mark Bolles
Jim Fellion
Jim Limburg
Rich Roberts

1. We discussed Images that members had created with AI tools. Jim is using AI as a source of inspiration for his wood sculptures. Jim tried generating a 3D model that can be printed from an Image that he generated.

2. We discussed "Critical Thinking" and the Monty Hall problem.

3. We discussed LLM Preachers.
Some people have noticed biases, either intended or not, in some of the values expressed by ChatBot tools. They intend to change the biases to fit their views by creating "LLM Preachers" chatbots that flood the Internet with articles reflecting their biases.

4. We discussed the video "The Arguments Against AI Art Generators Are Bad Arguments"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gnRquxKp3E

5. We discussed the video "Opera is Now AI AGENT, NEW DeepSeek Beats Grok, Cheap AI Car... + More AI & Robotics News"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYO5KRebL9E

Jim suggested reading "The Big Myth", there are several books with this title... Jim who is the author of the book that you suggested?

We decided that we should ask some young people if they are concerned about AI, as they will have to live and compete in a world impacted by AI more than we will.

We also decided to ask AI "How many young people have AI girl friends?".
ChatGPT says "5-10% of men 18 - 34 years old have experimented with AI companions, and a similar but smaller number of women 18-34 years old have experimentd with AI companions".

6. We discussed the video "AI Avatar Of Dead Victim ‘Moves’ Judge In Bizarre Techno Twist"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cRA6Pkr6p0

7. Please create at least a composite image or a collage from multiple images generated using an AI tool for the next meeting.

RESOURCES (Where you can find sources of inspiration)

AGENDA FOR OUR NEXT SYNTHETIC PHOTOGRAPHY SIG MEETING - Tue 7/1/2025 @6:00pm
1. Discuss Wall-Worthy composite or collage images and other images that we have created with AI or editing tools.
2. Discuss questions, ethics, techniques, what is happening with AI in general
3. Decide what we want to do at the next meeting

If there is anything related to AI that you would like to discuss at our SIG meeting, please email me so I can add them to our agenda.

Please email Mike, info@fcdcc.com, when you find mistakes, missing information or if you have suggestions for the Synthetic Photography SIG and I will try to address the issues.

--------------------------- results from ZOOM -----------------------

Meeting summary for FCDCC Synthetic Photography Zoom Meeting (06/03/2025)

Quick recap

The group began by discussing probability concepts and AI image generation tools, with demonstrations of various artistic creations and a detailed exploration of the Monty Hall problem. They then delved into concerns about bias in AI language models and copyright issues related to AI-generated art, examining legal cases and business models of AI companies. The discussion concluded with an examination of AI's impact on jobs, society, and elections, including ethical considerations and the potential for AI to influence legal proceedings and public opinion.

Next steps
Jim: Test if ChatGPT can convert the selected AI-generated sculpture image into a 3D printer file Jim: Follow up with the Loveland library regarding 3D printing services
Rich: Submit the Italian scooter scene photo and black and white portrait photos for the monthly submission
Rich: Look into Photoshop's neural filters to improve the reflection in the glasses on the portrait photo
Mike: Continue working on the Regulators photography project for the upcoming Larimer County Fair in August
Jim: Test the generated STL file at the library's 3D printer to verify its effectiveness Markster: Share the AI-generated beagle image with rescue labs and rescue centers for promotional use
Mike: Test and report back on the new Neon Opera browser's AI capabilities once access is granted
Jim: Follow up with Chat GPT regarding 3D model virtual rotation capabilities
Mike: Ask ChatGPT about the percentage of young men who have AI companions/relationships
Jim: Send the meeting transcript to all participants
Team: Ask younger people in their network about their perspectives and concerns regarding AI

Summary

Monty Hall Probability Insight
Mike shared his experience revisiting the Monty Hall problem, which he had previously thought had a 50-50 chance of winning the car by switching doors or staying. After analyzing it further and creating a flowchart, he realized that switching doors actually doubles one's chances of winning the car to 2/3. Jim Limburg and Rich discussed the probability, with Jim confirming he remembered the statistics and Rich expressing skepticism about entering such a competition.

AI-Generated Wood Sculpture Designs
Jim Limburg demonstrated how he used AI image generation tools to create abstract wood sculpture designs, showing various iterations from initial concepts to refined versions using different AI models and materials like cherry wood and black walnut. The group discussed the creative process and whether Jim's use of AI tools made him less or more creative, ultimately agreeing that AI served as a valuable ideation tool while Jim maintained the creative direction. Jim mentioned he had already started carving one of the generated designs and expressed interest in exploring if ChatGPT could convert the final image into a 3D printing file, though this was left as an open question for future investigation.

AI Art Creation and Potential
Rich demonstrated his use of AI to generate an Italian-themed image of a scooter, which he found impressive despite some minor criticisms. Mike shared AI-generated anime-style illustrations and discussed his experimentation with different models and styles. The group discussed the potential of AI for artistic creation, with Rich expressing interest in the non-lifelike quality of some AI-generated images.

Bias Concerns in AI Language Models
The group discussed concerns about bias in large language models, particularly how AI tools like ChatGPT can produce biased responses based on their training data. They shared an example of an experiment where ChatGPT demonstrated biased valuations of different religious groups, leading to concerns about how these models could be manipulated for propaganda purposes. The discussion also touched on the business models of AI companies, with Rich questioning how these tools will generate revenue streams and whether they could potentially be used to track user behavior for advertising purposes.

AI Art Copyright Law Challenges
The group discussed copyright issues related to AI art generators and traditional art. They explored various legal cases and scenarios to understand how copyright laws apply to different types of artwork. The conversation touched on the concept of fair use, the challenges of copyrighting buildings and AI-generated images, and the existence of copyright trolls. They also discussed the importance of metadata in protecting copyrighted images and the potential for AI-generated art to be considered fair use.

AI Developments and Copyright Implications
The group discussed various AI developments, including a new Opera browser with AI capabilities, Deep Seek updates, and Google's Flow TV platform for generating synthetic videos. They explored the implications of copyright for AI-generated content and debated the practicality of enforcing copyright claims. The conversation also touched on the potential of AI in creating 3D models and the growing trend of AI-generated content on platforms like YouTube.

AI's Impact on Job Market
The group discussed the impact of AI on jobs, particularly noting a significant decline in new graduate hires at tech companies from 33% in 2019 to 6% in 2024, though they questioned the causation between this trend and AI. They explored various scenarios where AI could replace human roles, from manufacturing to service industries, with Rich expressing skepticism about AI replacing manufacturing jobs while acknowledging its potential impact on service sector roles. Jim Limburg demonstrated an AI tool's ability to create STL files from 2D images, showcasing the technology's capabilities in 3D design. The discussion concluded with Markster noting that while AI could automate many tasks, it ultimately requires human input for orders and maintenance.

AI's Impact on Elections and Society
The group discussed the rapid development and potential misuse of AI, particularly in military contexts and elections. Jim Limburg expressed concern about AI's impact on society and elections in the next few years, while Rich and others noted that AI's influence might primarily affect the political middle ground. The conversation also touched on the potential for AI to manipulate public opinion and the need for caution in its development and use.

AI's Impact on Society and Ethics
The group discussed the impact of AI on society, focusing on its potential to influence legal proceedings, automate services, and affect human relationships. They debated the ethical implications of using AI-generated content in court, such as the case of a deceased victim's statement, and expressed concerns about AI's role in shaping public opinion. The conversation also touched on the future of work, with suggestions that AI might lead to a shift towards service industries and a need for investment in trade schools. The participants agreed on the importance of critical thinking in an AI-driven world and highlighted the need for younger perspectives in these discussions.

AI-generated content may be inaccurate or misleading. Always check for accuracy.