A freshwater crocodile sunbathing on a fictional hideout and a 50-metre cliff is among the AI-generated images that claim to be representative of northern Western Australia.
The AI’s work has been shared on social media, and tourism operators in the Kimberley region are concerned it is giving the wrong impression of their homeland and culture.
“It’s disgusting to see AI-generated things selling Bloom as something it’s not… It’s fake, it’s not true, it lacks integrity.”
Bart Pigram, a Broome local and member of the Yauru tribe, said:
One such account, called ‘Australia Hidden Gems’, posted a video claiming to show non-existent ‘cliffside hideouts’ in the Kimberley.
It recorded over 600,000 views.
The AI-generated video claims to show a Devonian limestone reef in the Kimberley and a “sunning crocodile”. (Source: Australia’s Hidden Gems)
Another video depicts a “freshwater crocodile sunbathing” on a Devonian limestone reef in the Kimberley, when it is actually at least 50 meters above the water’s surface.
“Lack of credibility”
Kimberley tour operator Johani Mamid said the video misrepresented the region.
“They were trying to recreate something like [the] Kimberly, but they looked more American to me,” he said.
A post claiming to show Kimberley’s “cliff-edge hideout” has garnered more than 600,000 views. (Source: Australia’s Hidden Gems)
“You can see these crocodiles aren’t real either… everything looks like it’s floating.”
The Yauru, Karadjari, Nyurnyur and Bardi man, who is experimenting with AI tools to create content for his business, said artificial depictions of land and culture should not be presented as authentic.
“If you’ve never been to the Kimberley, you might think this is what it looks like when you see those beautiful pictures.”
he said.
Yohani Mamid said the video did not accurately depict the Kimberley region. (Provided by: Yohani Mamid)
A WA Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Tourism spokesperson said visitors were encouraged to refer to official information sources such as the Explore Parks WA website and Facebook page.
“By using reliable information and planning ahead, park visitors can safely and responsibly experience the region’s true beauty,” they said.
The AI-generated post details the history of pearl diving around Broome and the Torres Strait. (Source: Australian AI Lens)
Culture created by AI
Another video shared by another account, Aussie AI Lens, shows an AI-generated avatar impersonating an indigenous person.
Avatars and voiceovers explain the history of pearl diving around Broome and the Torres Strait throughout the video.
Mr Pigram, who has worked in Broome’s tourism sector for many years, said the content was not an accurate representation of Aboriginal history.
”[AI] “This will be a major challenge for the future as we seek to preserve the authenticity of our culture and language,” he said.
Mamid said the shells shown in the video did not resemble the correct Pinctada maxima shells, and the video did not depict the harsh conditions faced by indigenous divers at the time.
“I don’t dislike these kinds of videos that teach people about history,” he said.
“But at the same time, we need to do it better so people can really understand what it was like.”
While the narration refers to the “harsh” conditions divers face, the video shows the avatar swimming in crystal clear, calm water.
Bart Pigram says AI content poses “huge challenges” to preserving indigenous culture. (ABC Kimberley: Rachel Jackson)
Pigram said the country is sensitive to indigenous peoples and that AI content is “taking away the essence of the place.”
“There are great photographers here and abroad who take authentic photographs,” he says.
Pigram, who now works as a language coordinator, says efforts to preserve indigenous languages and accurate pronunciations are threatened by AI.
“We are working tirelessly across the country, language groups and people to keep things as authentic as possible… AI is just a hurdle.”
he said.
“This is far from a false alarm.”
Aussie AI Lens acknowledged to the ABC that it had used the AI-generated text as a visual representation, but said the content was “far from a false alarm”.
“All topics are based on verified public data and research and do not use clickbait tactics,” the account said.
”We do not intend to spread misinformation or misrepresent anyone.”
Australia Hidden Gems did not respond to questions from the ABC.
Tama Lieber, professor of internet studies at Curtin University, often said that the motivation behind these types of posts is to attract clicks.
“This could simply be a way to create content that is original in nature, content that doesn’t require you to pay for it or attribute the photographer,” he says.
Tama Lieber said the videos will only become more persuasive in the future. (ABC News: Keene Burke)
Lieber said the video is “not very good,” but the technology could become even more convincing in the future.
”Things become even more difficult when stories, places, and people’s likenesses are appropriated and used in ways they neither imagined nor authorized.”
He said stronger regulation of AI in social media, including labeling and authentication systems, is needed globally.
