A recent experiment with an AI program has generated a collection of mind-bending optical illusions that are making viewers feel queasy. The illusions, which appear abstract and distorted at first glance, become even more perplexing the longer one looks at them. Critics have described the images as "dizzying", "unsettling", and "an affront to the senses." But what's so special about these optical illusions, and why are they causing such a strong reaction in viewers?
According to the AI program's creators, the optical illusions were generated by feeding the system a massive database of images and then asking it to create its own "original" images based on what it learned from the input. By analyzing patterns and textures in the input images, the program was able to generate new images that use similar visual elements, but in ways that our brains are not accustomed to processing.
One image, for example, features a spiraling vortex surrounded by geometric shapes that appear to be expanding and contracting in a way that is unpredictable. Another features what appears to be a checkerboard pattern, but with blocks of color that seem to shift and morph in size as one examines them more closely. The longer one looks at these images, the more one's brain struggles to reconcile what it's seeing, resulting in a feeling of disorientation and nausea.
Many viewers have reported feeling dizzy or nauseous after looking at the images for just a few moments. Some have even reported headaches or migraines. One viewer described feeling like their brain was "trying to untangle a knot" as they tried to make sense of the image. Another said that the image "seemed to be moving while also standing still." Despite the troubling reactions, the AI program's creators have expressed excitement about the possibilities this experiment presents in the field of visual art.
"We're really just scratching the surface in terms of what AI-generated art can do," said one of the creators. "These optical illusions are just the beginning. Who knows what other forms of visual art we can create using this technology?" For now, however, it might be best for viewers to approach these images with caution – unless, of course, they enjoy the feeling of queasiness that comes with trying to unravel the mysteries of the human visual system.
