Redditors have gone mad after the Welcome to Wrexham AI photo incident. Artificial intelligence has surely taken over the world, and even the biggest companies are using its benefits. Here is what you need to know!
The popular docuseries ‘Welcome to Wrexham,’ which follows Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney’s efforts to resurrect Wrexham AFC, has found itself in the heart of a controversy. This time, it’s not about their football team, but about a strange image that some viewers believe was made by artificial intelligence. Let us go into the topic and investigate the specifics.
Redditors are mad over the “Welcome to Wrexham AI photo”
When Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney purchased Wrexham AFC, they started on an ambitious mission. Their objective was to resurrect this ancient football club, and they filmed every step of their journey in the ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ series on FX. The program received a lot of attention and even received an Emmy nomination, proving how popular it was. As the second season begins, the program has taken an unexpected turn, raising concerns about the legitimacy of a particular photograph included in the series.
The dispute revolves around a critical moment in the ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ series in which a picture depicting Welsh laborers was shown. This snapshot, which appeared to be from a bygone period, portrayed 12 laborers, but astute observers immediately identified certain inconsistencies that called into question its historical correctness. The internet, notably Reddit, became a haven for curious enthusiasts who methodically scrutinized the photograph, pointing out flaws that called its legitimacy into question.
TV show ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ just tried to pass this off as a real photo. What do you reckon?
byu/clusterlove inmidjourney
A floating beer jug and the laborers seeming to utilize silver tankards were notable anomalies for working-class people in the past. “From a basic historical perspective,” one astute spectator observed, “a bunch of details are wrong.” This discovery fueled the argument and generated issues about the image’s significance in a plot involving Wrexham Lager, a local brewery.
Grab some popcorn and a pint. You're in for a ride. The season 2 premiere of FX's Welcome to Wrexham is now streaming on @hulu. pic.twitter.com/dKaCunafIZ
— Welcome to Wrexham (@WrexhamFX) September 13, 2023
One particular laborer in the image appeared to defy the laws of physics, holding beverages in both hands while a third seemed to hover mysteriously above his right hand. These anomalies fueled further speculation, with some viewers suggesting that the hands and faces of the individuals in the photograph bore the unmistakable hallmarks of artificial intelligence.
Comments like, “The two bearded guys in the center-right share an arm AND a leg. Weird condition,” and, “It’s an AI-generated image. The hands are a dead giveaway,” contributed to the controversy, leaving fans and critics alike questioning the photograph’s credibility and its place in the series.
Which tool was used for the “Welcome to Wrexham AI photo?”
In our quest to uncover the origins of this enigmatic AI-generated photograph, we turn to the forefront of AI technology. Presently, there are only two AI image generators that excel at producing highly convincing photorealistic images: Midjourney and the newly unveiled DALL-E 3. Midjourney reached version 5.2 in June 2023, while DALL-E 3, the newcomer, made its debut just this month, says PC Guide.
The release of DALL-E 3 corresponds with its integration into ChatGPT and Bing Image Creator, utilizing the Natural Language Processing (NLP) capabilities of GPT-4 and Bing Chat. These findings highlight the very early stage of AI technology, particularly in terms of consumer applications. As the globe continues to watch ‘Welcome to Wrexham,’ the mystery behind the AI-generated snapshot highlights the enthralling convergence of entertainment and technology.
Featured image credit: Welcome to Wrexham
