The potential impacts of generative AI images on public perceptions of forests
Without a doubt, generative AI has captured global attention. ChatGPT, the most well-known generative AI tool, famously gained 1 million users within five days of its launch in 2022. Today, it receives over 130 million visits every month, ranking as one of the most visited sites worldwide.
What is particularly striking is the fast adoption of this new technology among younger users. In the UK, nearly 80% of young people between the ages of 13 and 17 report regular use of such tools. In the Netherlands, the same applies to 74% of those aged 16 and 24.
As AI capabilities expand, particularly in generating and editing images, such technologies are increasingly integrated into daily life. These types of images are now prevalent on social media and even appear in political campaigns and NGO reports. Needless to say, as AI-generated content starts to permeate our everyday routines, increased AI exposure could potentially influence how people perceive, relate to, and make sense of environmental issues and sites, including forests and the people who live and work in them.
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