I’m not one to fight against progress and advances in technology—in fact, I celebrate and embrace them. Among the recent developments is this new technology that generates headshots and other images without the need for a photographer. Surprisingly, this offers a benefit, though in an unexpected and somewhat reverse way.
AI vs Real Photography
In most cases, AI images lack authenticity. The pictures often appear synthetic and, quite frankly, odd at times. It’s usually easy to spot an AI-generated image because it feels clinical and artificial.
Now, the real advantage of this lack of authenticity is that people can’t connect with the individual in the photo—and even better, they won’t trust this person or business. This, of course, gives you, with your professional profile and authentic images, a clear advantage over your competitors.
Neil Finegan, an industry expert and tutor at DLC Training, says: “If in doubt, stick to an authentic image, which will help you put your best foot forward! Hiring managers and colleagues will be much more impressed with a genuine image that might be a little imperfect than with a characterless AI version.”
Impact of AI on professional photos
When you use real images for your services and business, people connect with you and your environment. If customers visit your premises, they recognize the spaces and individuals from your images. That familiarity creates trust and makes interactions easier, offering reassurance about the people and places they will encounter. You project confidence in both yourself and your business. In contrast, with AI-generated images, you’ll have to work harder to prove that you’re genuine.
I’ll paraphrase something Napoleon Bonaparte said: “Never interrupt your enemy when they’re making a mistake.” The same goes for your competition.
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