Figure 1: 21 years old vs. 80 years old (Homiwork, 2025)
Nowadays, modern AI tools have the ability create human-like images that look incredibly real. With just a few clicks, you can see how you might look at 80 years old or even generate a picture of you and your favorite celebrity ‘together’. At first, it feels crazy that technology is able to do this and that it came this far, while it seems very normal to Gen Z. To be honest, the more I explore it, the more I realize it’s both exciting and strange how AI can blur the line between what’s real and what’s fake.
AI image generators use models that are trained on massive datasets of human faces to create realistic images (Fotor, z.d.). They’ve become popular because they tap into something deeply human, our curiosity about ourselves and others. We love seeing ‘what ifs’: What if I had a beard? What if my partner and I were older? What if we had kids together? In a way, these images are a new form of digital storytelling. They let us play with identity, fantasy, and imagination in a way that photography never could.
But it also makes me think about how personal and emotional these AI-generated images can become. When you see a picture that looks exactly like you with someone you were never actually with, it can make you feel things that aren’t even real. It’s a reminder that AI isn’t just about logic, it can also touch our emotions, sometimes in unexpected ways.
Rather than seeing this as purely dangerous, I see it as a creative opportunity with responsibility. Artists are already using these tools to explore ideas of memory, time, and relationships, creating portraits that show how technology can expand what it means to be human. At the same time, we should remember that with every powerful tool comes a need for awareness. AI doesn’t just reflect reality, it can reimagine it.
So maybe the real challenge isn’t whether these tools are ‘good’ or ‘bad,’ but how we use them. If we combine creativity with mindfulness, AI-generated images can become more than tricks of the eye, they can be windows into our imagination.
Fotor. (z.d.). AI Face Generator: Create unique human faces using AI | Fotor. https://www.fotor.com/features/ai-face-generator/
Homework (2024). AI Age Progression: How Will You Look at 18 or Older. https://homiwork.com/en/app/pictures/create/age-transformation
This is a thoughtful reflection! I like how you capture both the excitement and the unease that come with AI-generated images. The idea that AI doesn’t only reflect reality but can also reimagine it is really powerful.
You make an important point about responsibility too. That the real question isn’t whether these tools are good or bad, but how we choose to use them. Your perspective shows a great sense of awareness, recognising AI as something that expands what it means to be human rather than replaces it.