Digital Image: The Role of Apparatus, Artificial Intelligence, and Machine Learning in Visual Communication in the Digital Age

Resumo

The paper aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the current state of digital imagery and the implications of recent technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), in shaping the future of communication in the digital age. The impact of digital transformation on photography has been significant, with a shift from representing reality to serving as a source of raw data for autonomous learning machines. The generative capabilities of AI systems signify a profound shift in creative practices. These systems, capable of producing highly realistic images that often are indistinguishable from human-made ones, have significant implications for both individual creativity and the broader visual culture landscape. This transition has led to questions regarding the role of AI and machine learning in visual communication. As the landscape of creativity evolves with AI, it is imperative to navigate these complexities thoughtfully, ensuring that the integration of AI into creative domains enriches rather than diminishes the human creative experience. In this paper, we also incorporated a set of images generated by Midjourney of an ongoing project to illustrate the remarkable ability of this AI tool to produce visuals that can be deceptively similar to real photographs. Therefore, a comprehensive analysis of the role of apparatus, AI, and machine learning in visual communication, in the digital age is needed to understand the complexities of relying solely on machines and the risks of unconditional trust in technology. Finally, we propose to understand how these technologies are changing the way we communicate and consume images in the twenty-first century, and while the ability to employ computer vision, continuous image streams, and machine learning has beneficial implications, it also presents ethical challenges.