Distinguishing between AI Image Creation and Human Image Creation: Creators vs. Non-creators

As artworks created by artificial intelligence (AI) become more and more closely resemble those human-created ones because of the fast development in AI, numerous issues and challenges have emerged. This study explored the difference between creators and non-creators in distinguishing between AI image creation (AIIC) and human image creation (HIC). A total of 22 creators and 28 non-creators participated in this study, and they were asked to identify whether works are AIIC and HIC. The researchers of this study selected 12 AIIC works and 12 HIC works, which are further divided into the following four categories: (I) abstract images, (II) art images, (III) landscape images, and (IV) anime images. The study results showed that (1) humans can intuitively determine whether a work is by AI or by humans (p = 0.000), even when the 24 works were mixed and arranged in a random order on purpose. Nevertheless, the difference was only 13.4%, which means that AI in the near future may replace or even surpass works by humans, making AIIC and HIC no longer distinguishable. (2) When works differed hugely in their style, the study subjects' ability to distinguish between AIIC or HIC decreased substantially. (3) No difference was found between creators and non-creators in their ability to distinguish between AIIC and HIC. (4) No difference was found between male and female subjects in their ability to distinguish between AIIC and HIC. AI graphics has advanced greatly in recent years, allowing people to rapidly create very real-looking images by typing in some simple key words. However, an important question that arises is that whether creators should openly embrace AI or should creators remain as the main force of creation by treating AI as nothing but a tool. Another issue is whether creators should be alarmed by the possible threats or negative effects of AI. While these questions and issues are waiting to be addressed in the future, the emergence of AI is like an opened Pandora's box that forces people to confront new challenges and to advance fast.