AI-Generated History: A Glitch in the Matrix of Time?

Content creators are now wielding AI to conjure images of historical events and figures, primarily for educational purposes. But is this a harmless tool, or are we accidentally rewriting the past in pixels?

The Rise of the Algorithmic Historian

Text-to-image AI models are churning out ‘lifelike’ portraits of historical figures, from Indian rulers to forgotten warriors. Suddenly, recreating the past is as easy as typing a prompt. But like any amateur time traveler, these AIs are prone to errors. And when it comes to history, errors can have consequences.

The Problem with Pixels: Accuracy vs. Accessibility

These AI-generated images are riddled with inaccuracies, from poorly rendered settings to outright historical blunders. Fingers warp, proportions go haywire, and architectural details become a fever dream. Sure, some mistakes are obvious, but others are subtle and require a historian’s eye to catch.

Some historians believe these gaps in the visual record should remain, a stark reminder of lost evidence and the limitations of our knowledge. Others argue that something is better than nothing when engaging a modern audience. Which brings us to the next point.

Bias in the Machine (and the User)

AI, as we all know, is only as unbiased as its training data – and the person wielding the prompt. It’s easy to see how AI could become an echo chamber, amplifying existing biases and emotional interpretations. Want to make a ruler look like a hero? An AI can do that. Want to portray him as a villain? No problem. The algorithm obliges.

As historian Ira Mukhoty warns, AI can easily fall back on negative stereotypes, intentionally or not. An image is able to “generate an affective intimacy with the past – an experience that is founded on emotions, rather than purely rational knowledge.” This can potentially distort our understanding of history.

Case Study: The Mughals in the Machine

One historian, Ruchika Sharma, uses Adobe Firefly to generate images for her YouTube videos on medieval India. Her reasons are relatable: she dislikes video editing, wants to save time, and needs to grab viewers’ attention. She also argues that AI allows for a more neutral portrayal of historical figures, compared to some existing (and often unflattering) online images.

For example, Sharma noted the existing images of Alauddin Khalji online are overtly “menacing”, and she feels AI allows her to create a more objective image.

But here’s the rub: even with good intentions, the AI can stumble. When The Hindu prompted Google’s Gemini with “Generate a historically accurate picture of the Mughal emperor Akbar”, the result was… flawed. While passable at first glance, closer inspection revealed warped figures, distorted objects, and inaccuracies in architectural details, gender dynamics, and even Akbar’s personal appearance. The emperor’s distinctive mole, as noted by his son Jahangir, was conspicuously absent.

The Instagram Angle: Filling the Visual Void

The team behind Medieval Indian History, an educational Instagram account, admits to using AI-generated images when historical visuals are scarce or absent. They argue that some image, even if AI-generated, is better than no image at all. But is this a slippery slope?

The Future of Faux History

So, where does this leave us? Are we on the verge of a historical deepfake crisis? Probably not. But it does raise some important questions:

• Who controls the narrative? Are we letting algorithms and biased prompts rewrite history in their own image?
• What is the impact on education? Will students be able to distinguish between historical fact and AI-generated fiction?
• Are we erasing the gaps in history for the sake of engagement? Should some mysteries remain unsolved, prompting further research and critical thinking?

Ultimately, AI-generated history is a powerful tool, but like any tool, it can be misused. We need to approach these images with a healthy dose of skepticism and a critical eye. Otherwise, we risk mistaking a glitch in the matrix for a genuine glimpse into the past. In other words, caveat emptor…of history.