Robert Irwin Says AI Dilutes Wildlife Photography as 6th Graders Mistake Real Animals for Fake
Updated
Updated · BuzzFeed · Jul 20
Robert Irwin Says AI Dilutes Wildlife Photography as 6th Graders Mistake Real Animals for Fake
2 articles · Updated · BuzzFeed · Jul 20
Summary
Robert Irwin told Parade that generative AI is eroding wildlife photography’s impact by making real images harder to distinguish from fabricated ones.
Irwin said AI not only strips away photography’s artistry but also “dilutes what is impressive,” because viewers become desensitized after seeing unrealistic fake animal scenes online.
Commenters echoed that concern, with one chaperone saying 6th graders at a zoo called a real grizzly “so AI” while watching it swim just feet away.
Irwin also tied the issue to environmental harm from new technology, widening the debate beyond image authenticity to AI’s broader cultural and ecological costs.