The Challenges of AI-Generated Plant Photos in Garden Centers
Lately I have been seeing a lot of unique and unusual plants on social media. The problem is, however, that they are FAKE. In recent years, the rise of AI-generated images has introduced a new challenge: Garden Center customers are bringing in photos of plants that simply do not exist.
The Rise of Fake Plant Photos
AI technology has made it possible to generate pictures that are almost indistinguishable from real photos. Websites and social media sites are now filled with these AI-created images, showing plants with impossible colors, shapes, and features. Enthusiastic gardeners, inspired by these pictures, often come to garden centers looking to purchase these extraordinary plants.
The Impact on Garden Centers
For garden center employees, this presents a unique challenge. When a customer walks in with a photo of a plant they’ve seen online, excitedly asking if it’s available, it can be difficult to explain that the plant doesn’t actually exist. It can be disheartening to deliver the news that the picture is fake and see the disapointment on their face.
Also, this trend can lead to confusion and frustration. People may feel misled or skeptical about the advice they receive from experts, doubting whether the plants they are seeking are real or not.
Educating Customers
One of the best ways to take control of this issue is through education. Garden centers can play a big role in informing customers about the rise of AI-generated plant images and how to distinguish between real and fake photos. Here are a few tips you can use when you see a photo of something that looks almost too good to be true:
- Check the Source: Verify the source of the photo. Reputable gardening websites and plant databases are more likely to feature real plants.
- Look for Scientific Names: Real plants often have their scientific names next to the image. If the picture lacks this information, it might be a red flag.
- Ask an Expert: Most garden center employees are knowledgeable and can help verify the authenticity of a plant.
- Research: Research to see if the plant appears on multiple reputable websites or gardening sites.
Embracing Technology
While AI-generated pictures can be a source of confusion, technology also offers opportunities for garden centers.
- Augmented Reality (AR): Some garden centers are using AR to help customers visualize how plants will look in their gardens.
- AI-Powered Plant Identification Apps: These apps can help customers identify real plants accurately and learn more about their care.
Remember, the next time you see an unbelievable plant photo online, it might just be too good to be true! Happy gardening! 🌱
***** This article was generated by Stephanie Fleming and AI (a few words words were changed to sound more like me LOL) *****
Hello, Stephanie, I am the newsletter editor for the Potomac Hosta Club’s newsletter, Shady Business, and I saw your article on AI-generated fake images of plants. I would like your permission to use your article in our next newsletter, which will be published in August. Also, would you have a second picture of an AI-generated plant to also include with the article. I think our members would be very interested in the issue. Thank you,
Tom Hilt
Hi Tom! Sure go ahead and use it. Just remember, that I wrote it with the help of AI LOL I will had a few more photos of FAKE plants to this article
In my opinion, posting fake AI generated depictions of animals and plants and/or playacting those that ask about them is deleterious to the minds of humans. These unreal depictions of our fellow beings serve to further distort people’s view of the more than human world, when so many are already suffering from generational amnesia ( https://gavinmounsey.substack.com/p/the-spiritual-poverty-of-statism?r=q2yay&selection=020ecd06-d354-4464-bb65-dc0d03ff90df&utm_campaign=post-share-selection&utm_medium=web ) this acerbates the problem, and in my opinion, leads to increased spiritual poverty on Earth.
Whether or not these images and videos make people say “awww that is cute” or not I think they also serve to increase the disconnect between humanity and our non human kin.
As I stated in a recent comment elsewhere, I see the impact of these AI generated fake plant and animal images daily. What I get a lot now while working my day job is people showing me AI enhanced (or totally AI fabricated made up) images of plants and they ask me where they can get one.
I show the people with the AI enhanced photos the actual plant and they say “nooo the one here on my phone picture from facebook is much more vibrant” and I say “yes, the saturation and warmth of that image has been manipulated, and colors added that are not actually present in real blossoms of this type, delphiniums do not look like that in real life” (sometimes they get mad at me and act like I do not know what I am talking about, meanwhile they are talking to someone that has loved delphiniums since a young age and hiked many miles into the hills to find them growing wild).
Then I tell the other people with the made up cartoon images of plants that do not exist anywhere (these are “AI hallucinated plants”, if you will) that there is no such thing, and they will often get quite upset with me. People are getting so plugged into their digital worlds on phones, living in boxes, staring into boxes, never connecting with nature, they do not know what real flowers or animals look like anymore and they are disappointed when their hostas or delphiniums are not glowing in radioactive florescent pinks and blues or when their birds do not do crazy gymnastic feats to cover their chicks from rain storms. Sad times indeed.
For some information on why I think giving people VR goggles for “augmented reality” in nurseries is a bad idea, read:
https://corbettreport.substack.com/p/welcome-to-mixed-reality-a-fake-place