AI-Altered Images on Birdwatching Forums Threaten Scientific Research
Experts warn that the rise of enhanced photos on birding platforms is creating fake sightings, jeopardising the credibility of citizen science tools used by researchers.
By The Guardian
AI-altered images on birdwatching forums are compromising scientific research by generating fake sightings that undermine the credibility of citizen science tools. Experts have noted a significant increase in fake and enhanced images of rare birds on wildlife photography forums, attributed to the rise of generative AI platforms such as ChatGPT and Google Gemini.
Users can create high-quality fake images in mere seconds or enhance existing photographs by instructing AI to remove obstructions like branches or leaves, which can unintentionally alter the subject. A recent commentary in the journal Nature highlighted that hundreds of fake images have already been identified on popular databases used for species recording.
For many birdwatchers, documenting a species outside its typical range is a notable achievement, with such discoveries often making national headlines in the UK. For instance, the western reef heron, typically found in Africa and southern Europe, was recently spotted in a seaside town in north Wales in June, a finding that was celebrated on birding forums before concerns about AI manipulation emerged.
Scientists are urging birdwatchers to limit their use of AI for image editing, fearing it could jeopardise the integrity of citizen science platforms like iNaturalist and Macaulay Library, which are frequently used in scientific research to monitor species' habitats. Dr. Alexander Lees, an ecologist at Manchester Metropolitan University and author of the Nature article, expressed concern over the prevalence of AI-generated wildlife images, stating that it complicates efforts to understand species distribution.
While outright hoaxes are rare and often easily identifiable, Dr. Lees noted that birders frequently use AI to enhance images, which can lead to the introduction of features from different bird species. He cited a false sighting of a red-winged blackbird in central Brazil, where the bird was actually an epaulet oriole, but AI editing had altered the image to include characteristics of the red-winged blackbird.
Citizen science organisations are still assessing the extent of the issue. On iNaturalist, only 1,400 of the over 610 million images on the platform have been flagged for AI use. Tony Iwane, iNaturalist’s director of community support and co-author of the Nature paper, indicated that most instances are unlikely to be intentional but urged users to remain vigilant. He emphasised the importance of accurate information for conservation efforts, stating, "The more we know about where species are, the better informed we can be as conservationists."