I paid 40$ for AI headshots so you don’t have to

🤯 From "thoughtful strategist" to "approachable team player," from “Alena in Paris” to “Alena the librarian,” AI-me has it all covered. Or does it?

They say there's a place called the "Uncanny Valley," where the line between human and not exactly human blurs into a chilling realm of almost-but-not-quite-right.

Alena is Awful

The rise of Image AI, while offering remarkable capabilities and is simply fun, also raises a host of ethical and societal concerns. One major danger is the potential for deepfake technology, where AI-generated images and videos can be manipulated to convincingly depict people saying or doing things they never did. This has serious implications for misinformation, defamation, and even blackmail. The trustworthiness of visual evidence is eroded, making it increasingly difficult to discern between authentic and manipulated content.

Dreamwave AI has simple values:

Empower human creativity

The process itself was not exactly creative: you upload eight pictures of yourself and wait for two hours. The beauty of creativity however is that it can’t be measured, so who am I to judge.

It is a fear of mine, and I believe many others, that AI will replace humans when it comes to art.

But keeping history in mind, we do know that art has evolved alongside technological advancements. New tools and mediums, from photography to digital art, have expanded the possibilities. I’d like to believe that AI is simply another tool in this trajectory, and like previous advancements, it is likely to complement human creativity, which is irreplaceable. AI never said “You don't make art out of good intentions.” Flaubert did.

Secure & private data

There is SO much of my data out there, data I voluntarily gave away and never thought of again. It's crucial to understand both the benefits and potential risks associated with this practice. While sharing data can lead to more personalized online experiences and tailored recommendations, it also comes with the responsibility of ensuring that the entities collecting and using your data are doing so ethically and transparently. As technology continues to advance, staying informed about your digital footprint and actively managing your privacy settings can help you make informed choices about how your data is utilized (if you can’t do, teach). After all, data is the new DNA, and maintaining control over it is an essential aspect of protecting your online identity and security.

Data is the new DNA, and my DNA is all over the place.

The company claims that ‘you can delete your data and AI models at any time and they will never sell your data,’ which might be true but the process of deleting the data is not exactly self explanatory, at least not to me. The only actions on the gallery page are to download the pictures, unlock more, take real or not quiz or share a link. The only action on an account icon is to sign out.

Safe & unbiased representation

Presenting next to zero representation myself, I can’t say anything useful on a topic in relation to Dreamwave. But we all know that one of the dangers of AI in general lies in perpetuating biased and discriminatory practices. If the training data used to develop Image AI models is biased, these biases can be amplified in the AI-generated content, exacerbating societal stereotypes and inequalities. This can lead to the severe reinforcement of harmful biases.

That being said, Dreamwave AI did not give me bigger boobs. Thanks a lot.

Stranger Danger

Three arms, giant head, creepy smile. If this is not uncanny, I don’t know what is.

I do have warm feelings for this picture as I look like my mom if she were a robot.

As AI continue to evolve, it's imperative that policymakers, tech companies, and society as a whole address the dangers. Responsible development, transparent practices, and robust regulations are essential to mitigate the negative impacts and ensure that this technology is harnessed for the greater good. Or at least for pure fun.