To the survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfujaTdkiyrwagGO4Cv_JjGQ_IIWt9v4tO54aVBSiF7J6a_pw/viewform?usp=header
After spending a lot of time designing my survey, I wanted to include another research method in my project: an interview. While the survey focuses on collecting data from many people, the interview gave me the opportunity to explore one person’s thoughts in much more detail.
Before the interview, I prepared a list of open questions. I wanted to understand how the participant thinks about AI-generated images, whether they trust images online and which clues they use to decide if an image is authentic.
The participant told me that they use AI quite often and spend a lot of time online. Because of this, they felt quite confident in recognising AI-generated images. At the same time, they also said that it is becoming more and more difficult to tell real and AI-generated images apart. I found this interesting because even someone with a lot of experience with AI feels uncertain sometimes.
Another topic we discussed was what people actually look for when judging an image. The participant explained that they usually pay attention to unrealistic content, strange details or common AI mistakes such as unusual hands or facial features. They also mentioned that images with very “perfect” skies or unrealistic scenes immediately make them suspicious. These answers were similar to what I had already read in some of the literature, which made me feel that my research is moving in the right direction.
One answer surprised me the most. When I asked how much they trust images online, the participant explained that they are generally careful. Not only because of AI, but also because authentic images are often taken out of context or edited to support a certain story. This reminded me that image authenticity is about much more than AI. The context in which an image is shared also plays an important role.
We also talked about the importance of the source. The participant said that trustworthy sources can increase confidence, but they still prefer to verify information instead of believing it immediately. I think this is an interesting point because it shows that people do not only judge the image itself but also where it comes from.
Overall, I really enjoyed conducting this interview. It helped me look beyond simple survey answers and better understand the thoughts behind people’s decisions. Even though it was only one interview, it gave me useful ideas that I can keep in mind when analysing my survey results later. I am curious to see whether other participants think in a similar way or whether completely different patterns will appear.
