Journey of Creation
The overall journey of using AI to create a digital self-representation was unfamiliar at first, and took some adjusting to figure out. Overcoming multiple roadblocks within the platform Artbreeder, to come to a conclusive selfie representation. I found if I put too many descriptions, the generator would only focus on the more broad categories; such as basic facial features and the background. Additionally, attempting to create more unique and specific characteristics to myself, the generator would focus on the most recent prompt included. Through the length of this course, I had decided to only stick to the singular AI platform, Artbreeder, so my findings would remain conclusive to the specific site, considering different platforms have their own focuses. The process of creating my self-representation was a lot of switching back and forth between descriptions of myself, and attempting to find what I thought was an accurate representation. I presume I was not the only one who had struggles with coming up with individual characteristics of oneself that were not too broad. This was the main struggle I encountered with this project, if I described my own facial features and structures, the image was not coming out the way I would have liked it too. Which made me question if an app where I had the ability to draw myself and critically examine the work would be better for creating a digital self-representation.
Self-Representation and Identity
I believe the majority of the time, individuals on online platforms are only showing what they want to be seen and think is desirable to their audience. We all want to be a person everyone likes and can trust, so not sharing flaws if you don't have to is desirable. So maybe there was some form of unconscious bias when prompting my own digital selfies to be more desirable. I don’t think I see myself exactly as the selfies below represent, but if I saw someone like that in or off a digital space I would interact with them. The representation is a slight shift of how I fully see myself, but yet I am still drawn to the little connection. On the other hand, it is difficult to generalize all aspects of identity formed over 20 years into one singular AI generated prompt, which really impacts the lack of connection I found towards the selfie. With additional trial and error I got closer to the image, but I do not believe identity can be fully replicated through AI.
Figure 1. Artbreeder Attempt 1
Figure 2. Artbreeder Attempt 2
Figure 3. Artbreeder Attempt 3
Ethical and Cultural Dimensions
Having a full representation of identity on the internet is increasingly scary with technological advancements, and a lot of uncertainty about the digital world. People add things to the internet without knowing that they will stay on the digital world forever, and how this can affect them. I would never put my exact information into an app without 100% knowing where it is going too and who can see it. Which brings me back to creating my prompts for the digital selfie; I did not give my exact identifications, just generalized characteristics that people also share. Digital media is getting harder to maintain with the increase of AI, and people reusing information to generate content, which is completely unethical, but it does not mean people will not do it.
Transliteracy Reflection
I find the formatting of blogs quite fascinating to reflect on findings in a more personal way. When writing up a critical analysis you have to be sure your writing is very academic, and not in a first person point of view, they want to receive the facts flat out. Shifting to a blogging format in an academic atmosphere has had its challenges, considering at first I was not sure if the work was too casual for an assignment. As time went on over these assignments, comfortability in my work formed, and writing from a personal reflective stance was fun. I would hope that the message of my blog helps my readers conclude I am a trustworthy source, through how the work is based on personal connections to the research.
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