We are moving into a world where fake images will not be the exception, but increasingly part of everyday life.
This is not only about politics, misinformation, or viral hoaxes. It is about ordinary things too: listings, products, profiles, advertising, and the kind of content people encounter every single day.
The question is no longer whether this will become a problem. The question is how quickly it will grow.
Recent reporting has highlighted how AI-generated images are already being used in online listings, while governments are beginning to look at rules for disclosure and labeling. That is an important step.
https://www.nrk.no/trondelag/fleire-brukar-ki-bilete-i-finn-annonsar-_-regjeringa-jobbar-med-innforing-av-krav-om-merking-1.17825906
But we should be honest: labeling alone will not solve the whole challenge.
Because this is about something much bigger than technology. It is about trust.
We are entering a future where images can be:
- lightly manipulated
- heavily altered
- fully AI-generated or blended in ways that make the line between real and artificial extremely difficult to see
And when that becomes normal, something deeper begins to happen. People start doubting what they see. Not only the fake, but also the real.
That may be the most serious consequence of all: when reality itself starts losing credibility.
This is why I believe we need to expect more from the services and platforms we use. As citizens, consumers, and end users, we should demand tools that do more than simply host content. They should also help us understand it.
Platforms should make room for:
clear labeling better transparency stronger traceability and better ways for people to distinguish between authentic, manipulated, and AI-generated content
This is not an argument against AI. AI is a powerful and valuable technology, and it will create enormous opportunities. But the more powerful these tools become, the more important it is that we build systems that protect trust.
We do not only need more innovation. We need innovation that helps preserve reality.
I am personally working on something that I hope can become a small contribution in that direction — a small contribution in the fight for reality.
Currently in development. Coming soon: https://realz.me
The future will not bring fewer fake images. It will flood us with them. That is why we need to start building better ways to make reality visible again.