Mitigating Viewer Impact from Disturbing Imagery using AI Filters: A User-Study

TL;DR

This study evaluates AI-based image filters in a user study with professionals, showing that AI Drawing filters effectively reduce emotional distress while maintaining image interpretability, offering a new approach to ethically handle disturbing imagery.

Contribution

The paper introduces and tests AI-based image filters specifically designed to mitigate emotional impact, demonstrating their effectiveness in a professional context.

Findings

AI Drawing filter reduces negative feelings by 30.38%

AI filters preserve 97.19% of image interpretability

Participants suggest integrating AI filters as a preparatory step

Abstract

Exposure to disturbing imagery can significantly impact individuals, especially professionals who encounter such content as part of their work. This paper presents a user study, involving 107 participants, predominantly journalists and human rights investigators, that explores the capability of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based image filters to potentially mitigate the emotional impact of viewing such disturbing content. We tested five different filter styles, both traditional (Blurring and Partial Blurring) and AI-based (Drawing, Colored Drawing, and Painting), and measured their effectiveness in terms of conveying image information while reducing emotional distress. Our findings suggest that the AI-based Drawing style filter demonstrates the best performance, offering a promising solution for reducing negative feelings (-30.38%) while preserving the interpretability of the image (97.19%). Despite the requirement for many professionals to eventually inspect the original images, participants suggested potential strategies for integrating AI filters into their workflow, such as using AI filters as an initial, preparatory step before viewing the original image. Overall, this paper contributes to the development of a more ethically considerate and effective visual environment for professionals routinely engaging with potentially disturbing imagery.