How AI Image Generators Recycle Colonial Stereotypes and Bias

Generative AI: A Double-Edged Sword in History

Generative AI has transformed the landscape of image creation, allowing users to generate anything from realistic photographs to imaginative art with just a simple textual prompt. Platforms like Sora, DALL-E, and Midjourney are at the forefront of this technological revolution. However, while the creative potential is vast, these tools have significant ethical implications, especially concerning representation and bias.

Research has unveiled that generative AI models frequently reinforce societal stereotypes, particularly those related to race and gender. For example, roles such as pilots are often depicted as male, while individuals portrayed as criminals tend to be of color. The issue goes deeper than traditional stereotypes, as emerging studies reveal that these models also perpetuate colonial biases, which shape the ways we perceive history.

Revisiting Aotearoa's Past Through an AI Lens

Recent inquiries into AI’s capabilities to recreate historical scenes bring to light how these models lean towards European settler narratives when depicting Aotearoa New Zealand's past. For instance, when prompted with the request to visualize New Zealand in the 1700s, Sora produces imagery of lush, unclaimed wilderness with Māori figures depicted merely as ornamental details, entirely erasing the complexities of pre-colonial life and the rich cultural practices of the Māori people.

These images align closely with 19th-century colonial artistic traditions, as exemplified by painters like John Gully, who portrayed landscapes as pristine and waiting for European 'discovery.' This representation not only distorts history but also trivializes the struggles faced by Indigenous communities.

The Impact of AI Bias on Cultural Identity

Generative AI models such as Sora often default to nostalgia and romanticism when creating visuals about Māori identities. For instance, a prompt asking for an image of a Māori in the 1860s results in a sepia-toned studio portrait resembling cartes de visite photographs from the colonial period. These portrayals fail to acknowledge the significant political and societal turmoil that characterized this era, where Māori communities were actively resisting colonial rule.

Such depictions serve to paint a narrative where the consequences of colonization are minimized, leading to the normalization of colonial myths. This has significant implications for present-day Māori movements, which seek political sovereignty and cultural revitalization.

Confronting the Recycled Colonial Lens

The resilience of colonial imagery in contemporary digital forms presents a challenge. While movements to challenge these earlier visual histories have gained momentum, the imagery used for AI training often remains steeped in colonial narratives. This poses the risk of perpetuating systems of oppression while simultaneously reinforcing the historical erasure of Indigenous people.

As we navigate these challenges, it becomes crucial to amplify Māori voices and perspectives. Encouraging the inclusion of Indigenous-curated data in AI training sets could provide a more nuanced understanding of history and identity. However, such efforts must respect Indigenous sovereignty and ethical frameworks.

The Path Forward: Promoting AI Literacy and Ethical Engagement

The evolving nature of AI requires a proactive approach to promote AI literacy among users and creators alike. Understanding the sources from which these models draw and the potential biases they encode is essential in fostering informed and ethical use of technology.

Enhancing AI’s capacity to reflect diverse historical narratives will require collaboration between technologists and communities. This partnership can help develop frameworks that prioritize diverse perspectives within the AI landscape, challenging the historical biases these technologies can perpetuate. Furthermore, as communities continue to engage with AI in creative ways, we can shift the narratives, moving beyond mere representation to reimagining history's complex tapestry through a critical lens.

In sum, the intersection of AI and historical representation underscores the urgency for critical engagement and awareness. As users of this transformative technology, we hold the responsibility to ensure it serves to elevate diverse voices rather than perpetuate old biases.