Artificial Intelligence Generates Surreal Images of Carlisle’s Future and Past
Artificial intelligence (AI) is constantly evolving, and the latest technological advancement comes in the form of Microsoft Bing’s image creator. This user-friendly AI image generator has the ability to visualize custom prompts, offering a glimpse into various scenarios. In an effort to test its capabilities, we asked the AI to create seven images of Carlisle based on different situations, providing us with a surreal perspective of the city’s future and past.
Upon examining the images, it is clear that they are rather strange and more like artistic impressions rather than accurate depictions of the actual city. The AI seems to struggle with rendering people, often creating disembodied heads, grotesquely elongated arms, and even six-fingered hands. However, what is truly remarkable is the AI’s ability to produce these images instantly, showcasing the advancements of this technology in 2024 as it continues to rapidly develop.
The first prompt we presented to the AI was for it to visualize Carlisle with an upgraded public transport system featuring trams. The resulting image depicts tram systems cutting through the city center, providing an alternative mode of transportation. While the exact location within the city is unclear, the image does capture the picturesque hills on the horizon.
For a more imaginative scenario, we asked the AI to envision Carlisle as the heart of the nation, rather than being located over 300 miles away from the capital. In this visual representation, Carlisle retains its rural charm, with the Cathedral at its center. However, it seems funding has not been allocated for the completion of a nearby bridge, as it starts on one bank but fails to reach the other.
Catering to the aspirations of Carlisle United fans, we tasked the AI with visualizing the celebrations that would occur if the team were to reach the pinnacle of English football. The resulting image portrays the faces of numerous individuals sliding off in what can only be described as a bizarre scene.
Continuing with the theme of sports, the AI image generator offers a glimpse into what ‘Botchergate’ could look like if Gareth Southgate’s England were to win the European Championships in Germany this summer. Botchergate, known for its celebrations during England’s journey to the final in 2021, could potentially see a similar raucous atmosphere, with the image depicting a pile of bottles as evidence of the revelry.
The AI’s interpretation of Carlisle without roads or traffic raises eyebrows. Rather than imagining a city devoid of congestion, the image portrays snaking and slaloming roads traversing a central river, with traffic clearly visible. This unusual depiction receives a less-than-stellar rating of 1 out of 10.
Looking ahead to the future, the AI offers a visual representation of what Carlisle might look like in 1,000 years. Futuristic skyscrapers and space travelers dominate the skyline of Botchergate, with steam or smoke billowing from the towering structures. Surprisingly, the roads still accommodate vehicles that have not technologically advanced much in a millennium.
On the opposite end of the time spectrum, the AI presents us with an image of Carlisle as it might have appeared in 1024. The city’s cathedral, which had not yet been built at the time, is surrounded by a medieval settlement, providing a glimpse of what life was like 44 years before William the Conqueror’s arrival on the southern coast of England.
In conclusion, while the AI image generator’s rendering of Carlisle’s future and past may be peculiar and far from accurate, it does offer a unique snapshot of the capabilities of AI technology in 2024. As this technology continues its exponential growth, it is clear that there is still much progress to be made in refining the AI’s ability to accurately visualize scenarios.
