Artificial Intelligence: Beyound Ocularcentrism, the New Age of Humans Beyond the Spectacle

TL;DR

This paper critically examines how AI-driven visual content transforms societal perceptions, challenges traditional notions of creativity, and emphasizes the need to reassess the influence of spectacle and representation in contemporary culture.

Contribution

It introduces a critical framework for understanding AI's impact on visual culture and presents an experimental case study on public engagement with AI-generated urban visuals.

Findings

Public prefers visually striking AI images over real-world issues.

AI accelerates image commodification and reinforces power structures.

Spectacle influences perceptions and decision-making in urban redevelopment.

Abstract

This paper explores the transformative impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on visual culture and its broader implications for contemporary society. The proliferation of machine learning models in generating visual content necessitates a critical reassessment of the relationship between reality and representation. AI-generated imagery not only challenges traditional conceptions of human creativity and perception but also intensifies the dominance of visual media in shaping public consciousness. By critiquing the reliance on vision as the primary mode of knowledge, this study examines how AI technologies blur the boundaries between reality and artificial constructs, deepening societal alienation. To illustrate these dynamics, the paper presents an experiment conducted in Bolzano, Italy, where six distinct visual scenarios for an urban redevelopment project were created. Public engagement with these scenarios revealed a strong preference for visually striking AI-generated images, often at the expense of addressing real-life challenges, underscoring the influence of the spectacle in shaping perceptions and decisions. The paper further investigates the role of AI in accelerating the commodification of images, perpetuating existing power structures, and raising critical questions about the human role in creating and interpreting visual media. Ultimately, this work calls for a re-evaluation of the societal implications of AI-driven visual culture, as it redefines the dynamics of observation, meaning, and agency.