The amount of AI-generated images I’m seeing online is growing exponentially by the day. A common clickbait pattern I keep running into is the “sad child holding their artwork” trope. The script is always the same: a teary-eyed kid clutching a piece of art they supposedly made, accompanied by some AI-written caption from a “parent” begging for encouragement.
The comments section is predictably engaged—floods of “cheer up little man” replies, gushing praise, and even people offering to buy the nonexistent artwork. And we all know where that leads: a one-way ticket to Scamville! What saddens me is how few people actually see through this. In the groups I’m in, I’d estimate 90% or more are fooled and the few people who point out that the post is AI get tons of negative comments, basically calling them a hater or a spoil-sport...
Up until recently, I avoided weighing in on AI. I thought maybe it could serve as a legitimate tool—something artists might combine with their own skills. But the reality I see every day is that it’s being used for cheap clickbait, recycled memes (baby Theo Von, anyone?), and hollow, AI-narrated videos.
That became even clearer when I tried to use AI (ChatGPT, specifically) while researching a case for a true crime/mystery podcast I’m producing. I asked for help on the timeline, and it got basic facts—like dates of events and even names of the people involved—completely wrong. In short, I don’t trust this technology. Not for research, not for authenticity, and not for creative integrity.
And honestly, neither should you.
“Cheer up little man, almost no one can tell you are AI slop!”