Fake Family Fotos

Back from a Wisner Family Reunion at Oglebay Resort W.V. Three Wisner Siblings with spouses, five childen and their 4 spouses and seven grandchildren (22 total).  Not huge - but not insignificant.  Organized by Dayna and D'Lane the location and available activities was both convenient and great fun for all (but especially for the grandchildren).  

Like the Blue Danube Cruise organized by Mom and Dad (July 8 - 18 2006), there was 100% participation. Twenty six years ago none of the kids were married so the numbers were lower (13 total).  

Family Genelogy and numbers are fascinating.  The Vistage Alumni exercise we did in May looking at three generations back and forward was interesting as it showed me how my family tree was so much larger in the 1800s smaller in the 1900s and now more expansive in the 2000s.  Of course it is all in how you count - one surname or all inlaw surnames. 

The family picture was morphed several times via AI - first with March Madness college jerseys, then NFL Teams and finally with a 1925 black and white photo of all 22 of us (as if back in time).  

It seems AI also changes faces, sex, weight, or many other features as it reshapes people to fit the style (basketball players, football players, 1925 folks) of the requested theme.  It favors visual style over accuracy.  My opinion is that with all the deep fake liability issues that AI is purposely trying to make adjustments to avoid problems.

It does beg the issue of what photo can you even trust and how do you know if a photo has been modified.  For digital photos there is the original timestamp, device, GPS and whether the file has been re-saved or edited.  Compression levels, pixel forensics, lighting and geometry play a key role in deep fake detection.  Bottom line images and video can no longer be trusted alone - other collaboration of multiple witnesses and physical evidence are required.

So did the Family Reunion really occur?  Only the participants can attest.