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How to depict artificial intelligence?
Finding an image to illustrate your work on artificial intelligence (AI) can be challenging. You need an image that conveys the right message and is also copyright free. Many images of AI on the internet create and reinforce AI stereotypes. The consortium Better images of AI aims to provide images that are more realistic, diverse and helpful.
The standard pool of images related to AI
If you search in Google Images using the keyword “AI”, your screen will be flooded by pictures in a blueish tint showing computerized brains, humanoids, computer chips and, of course, the famous Michelangelo meme referring to Michelangelo’s painting The creation of Adam, where God and Adam are about to touch hands to convey life to Adam.
Typical images used to depict artificial intelligence
What’s the issue with most AI illustrations?
The first issue with these images of AI, is that they often poorly depict your work.
Most of these images are also a disservice to your audience because they hinder a proper understanding of the ways AI is applied. The traditional, cliché images of AI may reinforce the perception that AI is magical, beyond human control or even divine. The cliché representations of AI may lead us to overestimate the capacity of AI and to discourage critical thinking about AI-generated products.
In addition, these images often reinforce existing gender and racial biases and don’t address any underlying societal and environmental consequences of AI.
Better images of AI
Better images of AI has created a guide to choose better illustrations for AI topics. It also provides examples of cliché images to avoid, such as images of white robots, descending code, computerized brains etc.
According to this guide, good practices revolve around four principles:
- Honesty: is the image showing what the AI is doing - nothing more, nothing less?
- Humanity: Does the image include humans who are using the technology?
- Necessity: is using AI-related imagery necessary?
- Specificity: are you showing the correct type of AI technology?
You can find alternative images in the image bank of Better images of AI. These images are published under a Creative Commons License. You can use them as long as you properly credit the author and comply with the license terms. Each image comes with a description that will help make your work more accessible to people with a visual impairment.
Improve your image search
Carefully consider which keywords to use when searching for an illustration. You may find better illustrations if you use keywords that are not related to AI, but to other aspects of your work.
Examples of alternative images you could use to depict artificial intelligence
Photo credits (from top to bottom, right to left):
- Two hand touching each other in front of a blue background, by Igor Omilaev on Unsplash
- A group of white robots stitting on top of laptops, by Mohamed Nohassi on Unsplash
- Big Data Analytics - Artificial Intelligence, by Jack Moreh on Free Range Stock
- A person's head with a circuit board in front of it, by Steve Johnson on Unsplash
- Human - Machine interface - The rise of Artificial Intelligence, by Jack Moreh on Free Range Stock
- Concept of Artificial Intelligence on Abstract Background, by Jack Moreh on Free Range Stock
- Nacho Kamenov & Humans in the Loop / Better Images of AI / A trainer instructing a data annotator on how to label images / CC-BY 4.0
- Max Gruber / Better Images of AI / Banana / Plant / Flask / CC-BY 4.0
- Nidia Dias & Google DeepMind / Better Images of AI / AI for Biodiversity / CC-BY 4.0
- Catherine Breslin & Team and Adobe Firefly / Better Images of AI / Chipping Silicon / CC-BY 4.0