This chapter investigates the role of photorealistic AI-generated images in the visual documentation of war, focusing on the 2023 controversy surrounding Adobe Stock’s sale of AI-created depictions of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. The case exemplifies how generative AI challenges long-standing notions of photographic truth and the documentary function of photojournalism. Traditionally anchored in the photographer’s eyewitness authority, news imagery now faces a paradigm shift as synthetic visuals enter the informational ecosystem. Within today’s deeply mediatized environment—where professionals, civilians, and platforms co-produce conflict imagery—the boundaries between representation, simulation, and evidence blur. By situating AI-generated war images within broader debates on mediatization, platformization, and the operational use of visuals, the study highlights how authenticity and credibility are being redefined in the evolving media ecology of war.
Generic War Imaginaries: AI-Generated Images of the Israel-Gaza Conflict in the Adobe Stock Controversy
Gemini L.
;Brilli S.;Spaggiari C.
In corso di stampa
Abstract
This chapter investigates the role of photorealistic AI-generated images in the visual documentation of war, focusing on the 2023 controversy surrounding Adobe Stock’s sale of AI-created depictions of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. The case exemplifies how generative AI challenges long-standing notions of photographic truth and the documentary function of photojournalism. Traditionally anchored in the photographer’s eyewitness authority, news imagery now faces a paradigm shift as synthetic visuals enter the informational ecosystem. Within today’s deeply mediatized environment—where professionals, civilians, and platforms co-produce conflict imagery—the boundaries between representation, simulation, and evidence blur. By situating AI-generated war images within broader debates on mediatization, platformization, and the operational use of visuals, the study highlights how authenticity and credibility are being redefined in the evolving media ecology of war.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
