Take a look at this image. While it probably represents our sense of overwhelm experienced when contemplating the ever-evolving field of AI and technology, odds are you didn’t like it. You detected it was fake. And you’re right. This image was generated using Microsoft Copilot, and if you look at the hands, it’s pretty easy to spot that this is a fake person.
Sensing something fake tends to cause an instant recoil effect. This is not to negate the advantages that technology can offer us but to caution against the damage that can be done if your audience perceives that your presentation or visuals were thrown together by it and not you.
So what is that causes us as humans to be so distrusting and adverse to that which is not real? Understanding where our neurological wiring originates really highlights how important it is to give
thought to considering transparency and vulnerability not only in disclosing when and where we are
using AI but also as to how we show up before an audience.
We tend to forget how intelligent we have become after so many years of evolution whilst learning
to co-exist in complex social structures to survive. As very intelligent human animals, we have
developed very intelligent unconscious responses to inauthentic /fake material or people for good reasons which we don’t really think about on a day-to-day basis as these responses ‘just happen’ unconsciously.
From an evolutionary biology perspective, our distrusting sensors are really a protective
mechanism we evolved to help us avoid potential threats or exploitation. Here are some
really interesting reasons why your brain is so prone to sense something and turn away
from ‘fake’ people or things:
- Mimicry Detection: We evolved to detect subtle cues of mimicry (we hate copycats)
which historically could indicate a deceptive threat or attempt to infiltrate a group
for malicious reasons. We’re pretty sure you have an instant recoil reaction when
you detect someone is either presenting parrot fashion (not their words!) or has
copied someone or something else (like an AI script!). - Detection of Cheaters: Evolutionary psychologists suggest that humans have
developed a ‘cheater detection’ mechanism to identify individuals who might take
advantage of social cooperation without reciprocating 1 .Nobody likes cheaters and
unfortunately when we can spot that you wrote all your content using AI, we lose
respect instantly. - Intention Alignment: Our capacity to reason and align intentions with others is
crucial for social cohesion. When someone seems inauthentic, it can signal for us a
misalignment of intentions which triggers distrust 1 . - Resource Competition: In the context of limited resources, distrust can serve as a
way to protect our access to resources. In modern times this usually translates to a
natural desire to not lose our cash and translates to wariness of those who intend to
part us from it! - Reputation Management: We know how important a good reputation is critical for
social standing and business. We don’t wish to associate with inauthentic individuals
who might damage it. - Pathogen Avoidance: Some theories suggest that the emotion of disgust, which can
underlie distrust, evolved partly as a mechanism to avoid that which can make us ill. Inauthentic behaviour might be subconsciously associated with the risk of
contamination. - Social Bonding: Trust is a fundamental aspect of forming strong social bonds and
when trust is broken, relationships usually end. From an evolutionary biology
perspective when trust was broken, resulting social exclusion would have decreased
our odds of survival.
As tired and grumpy presentation designers ourselves, we know how much effort and cost is
involved in sourcing the ‘right’ photostock image for your presentation. We are overjoyed
at the time saving and creative scope that well deployed AI can offer as we are sure you are
too. But we caution that you disclose with transparency when something is ‘not real’ and we
most definitely do not advise that you rely on AI to write your ‘script’.
In a world where we anticipate everyone will be churning out AI generated presentations
shortly as the new way to kill audiences, we encourage you to be different. You already are.
And the x factor that you’re really bringing to the platform that you must never forget is
YOU. Keep it real folks.
1. Why we reason: intention-alignment and the genesis of human rationality | Biology
& Philosophy (springer.com)
2. https://evolution-outreach.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12052-015-0037-4
3. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10539-016-9532-4
