# So, apparently AI can create amazing optical illusions **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** ai\ **Created:** [October 20, 2023, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-apparently-ai-can-create-amazing-optical-illusions/991845 "2023-10-20T16:27:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-apparently-ai-can-create-amazing-optical-illusions/991845/1 "2023-10-20T16:27:36Z")
As best as I can determine, the following images were created by AI, in conjunction with Stable Diffusion, a neural AI network. They are pretty amazing to me. Some are easier to see than others. Back away, squint or view as thumbnails for best effect. [![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/gs-geo-images/4344f270-368d-4a73-90ee-c824ef3fe1f0.jpg) ](https://s3.amazonaws.com/gs-geo-images/4344f270-368d-4a73-90ee-c824ef3fe1f0.jpg) [![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/gs-geo-images/36c1f5ed-9070-4f86-af46-cbc3ec874ce3.jpg) ](https://s3.amazonaws.com/gs-geo-images/36c1f5ed-9070-4f86-af46-cbc3ec874ce3.jpg) And my favorite: [![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/gs-geo-images/21a483a8-7b97-487d-b530-edef796245d0.png) ](https://s3.amazonaws.com/gs-geo-images/21a483a8-7b97-487d-b530-edef796245d0.png) ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-apparently-ai-can-create-amazing-optical-illusions/991845/2 "2023-10-20T16:40:08Z")
Wow. atleast5characters ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-apparently-ai-can-create-amazing-optical-illusions/991845/3 "2023-10-20T16:49:29Z")
Haha! The middle one was easiest, then the bottom, and then I burst out laughing at the top one. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-apparently-ai-can-create-amazing-optical-illusions/991845/4 "2023-10-20T17:13:10Z")
That is amazing. Pretty easy for me to see when I take off my glasses. Wow. I wonder if it really is AI and what the prompting was to do this. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-apparently-ai-can-create-amazing-optical-illusions/991845/5 "2023-10-20T17:28:04Z")
Wow, that’s impressive. I’m currently a web developer, have worked as an illustrator in the past, and consider myself a halfway decent amateur hobby photographer. I’m feeling more useless every day. 😢 ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-apparently-ai-can-create-amazing-optical-illusions/991845/6 "2023-10-20T17:42:01Z")
There’s a specific set of AI image tools used to make these; Stable Diffusion with Controlnet’s QRCode\_Monster model. Stable Diffusion creates the main image, and Controlnet/QRCode\_Monster is used to integrate an uploaded secondary image. It was originally developed to make working QR codes out of images but it works for simple shapes and text as well. Somebody noticed how well it integrates text a couple of months ago and voila, a whole new genre of optical illusions was born. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-apparently-ai-can-create-amazing-optical-illusions/991845/7 "2023-10-20T17:49:18Z")
Well, they are not really “optical illusions.” They are just images with different emphasis in their high and low-resolution components. Dali did it ages ago: > **[Lincoln in Dalivision](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_in_Dalivision)** > > \- Dalí Theatre and Museum, Figueres, Spain > Lincoln in Dalivision is a 1977 original limited edition lithograph created by Salvador Dalí. It is often considered one of the most counterfeited Dalí lithographs. Dalí authentication experts who have noted the counterfeiting issue with this work include Albert Field (The Official Catalog of Graphic Works of Salvador Dalí – authorized by Dalí), Frank Hunter (Dalí Archives – authorized by Dalí), Robert Descharnes (French photographer, long-term friend a... ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-apparently-ai-can-create-amazing-optical-illusions/991845/8 "2023-10-20T17:55:39Z")
I could not for the life of me figure out what was so remarkable about three perfectly ordinary pictures, and eventually leaned back in my chair still wondering. Since I’m near-sighted and don’t wear my glasses when using the computer, things got a bit blurred and suddenly the hidden magic revealed itself! 🙂 And yes, it was the middle one that revealed itself first. ---
**Author:** ![2\_More\_Bits](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/2_more_bits/32/4148_2.png) [@2\_More\_Bits](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2_More_Bits)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-apparently-ai-can-create-amazing-optical-illusions/991845/9 "2023-10-20T18:00:21Z")
What am I supposed to be seeing? #1 is “odd.” #2 isn’t particularly. #3… ? I don’t wear (or need) glasses. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-apparently-ai-can-create-amazing-optical-illusions/991845/10 "2023-10-20T18:02:19Z")
Zoom out, make the images really small. ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-apparently-ai-can-create-amazing-optical-illusions/991845/11 "2023-10-20T18:03:26Z")
Try squinting so that your eyelashes make the image blurrier. It should really pop out at you by then. ---
**Author:** ![2\_More\_Bits](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/2_more_bits/32/4148_2.png) [@2\_More\_Bits](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2_More_Bits)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-apparently-ai-can-create-amazing-optical-illusions/991845/12 "2023-10-20T18:05:53Z")
Squinting did the job. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-apparently-ai-can-create-amazing-optical-illusions/991845/13 "2023-10-20T18:28:23Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > Well, they are not really “optical illusions.” They are just images with different emphasis in their high and low-resolution components. Which fits the bill. Oxford’s online dictionary defines them as "Something that tricks your eyes and makes you think that you can see something that is not there, _or makes you see something as different from what it really is_. And while amazing, Dali’s Lincoln is far from the first of this type. But the point of this post isn’t that this type art exists, or is new, it’s that AI can create it in such a stunning and realistic fashion. > [@solost](#): > > I’m currently a web developer, have worked as an illustrator in the past, and consider myself a halfway decent amateur hobby photographer. > > I’m feeling more useless every day. 😢 I’m was an illustrator in the past as well, and I feel your pain. When AI first started creating “art”, I wasn’t impressed, or worried. Those days are over. It’s just unbelievable what it can create. I can envision ‘artists’ of the near future having AI generate an artwork and then just painting over it. I wonder if AI will devaluate future “art”? ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-apparently-ai-can-create-amazing-optical-illusions/991845/14 "2023-10-20T18:33:54Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > Zoom out, make the images really small. That worked for me. Thank you. I couldn’t see it by squinting or moving back. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-apparently-ai-can-create-amazing-optical-illusions/991845/15 "2023-10-20T18:35:09Z")
> [@solost](#): > > I’m feeling more useless every day. 😢 I KNOW! And this is nothing new. I’ve long been angry at Adobe for making things easy. [geezer voice] _Back in mah day …_ … you couldn’t say “Hey, Photoshop, can you move that person over, and remove the background?” No, it took a Serious Graphic Designer™ hours, meticulously using a pen tool to trace around the windblown hair of that person… So, I’ve been resenting computers threatening my job for decades. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-apparently-ai-can-create-amazing-optical-illusions/991845/16 "2023-10-20T18:37:26Z")
You can see the words in small versions of the images: [https://i.imgur.com/Ho7ShLe.png](https://i.imgur.com/Ho7ShLe.png) ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-apparently-ai-can-create-amazing-optical-illusions/991845/17 "2023-10-20T18:48:32Z")
I had to hold my phone at about arm’s length and slightly unfocus my eyes, and the words just popped out. At least that was easier than those 3D pictures that were all the rage back in the 90s. I never could see anything in those. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-apparently-ai-can-create-amazing-optical-illusions/991845/18 "2023-10-20T19:00:11Z")
> [@digs](#): > > I KNOW! And this is nothing new. I’ve long been angry at Adobe for making things easy. > > [geezer voice] _Back in mah day …_ > … you couldn’t say “Hey, Photoshop, can you move that person over, and remove the background?” No, it took a Serious Graphic Designer™ hours, meticulously using a pen tool to trace around the windblown hair of that person… Yep, same here. My Photoshop skillz were pretty on point back in the day, and I could trace around windblown hair and remove and replace backgrounds with the best of ‘em. On an amateur photography site I sometimes visit, a guy has been posting a series of AI-generated images of various celebrities, with an almost photorealistic, yet painterly style. The quality is astonishing. A bit cheesecake, but safe for work. Here’s AI Taylor Swift: > **[ai\_generated\_taylor\_swift by Paul Van Hoof](https://pbase.com/desperado290/ai_generated_taylor_swift)** ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-apparently-ai-can-create-amazing-optical-illusions/991845/19 "2023-10-20T19:14:36Z")
Yeah, as Dorjan said, this was a big fad that came and went in the AI art community a couple of months back. Not only can you hide text, but also other images. Here are a few more examples: > **[Gay Sex | Hidden Imagery In AI Art](https://knowyourmeme.com/photos/2666498-hidden-imagery-in-ai-art)** > > See more 'Hidden Imagery In AI Art' images on Know Your Meme! > **[Hidden Imagery In AI Art](https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/hidden-imagery-in-ai-art)** > > Hidden Words In AI Art refers to a series of optical illusion images generated using AI art tools, primarily Stable Diffusion, which spell out words or letters using figures in the images. Often, a viewer must step backward or see a smaller version... > **[Hidden in Plain Sight](https://www.factsmachine.ai/p/hidden-in-plain-sight)** > > Embedding text in AI images with ControlNet and Modal ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-apparently-ai-can-create-amazing-optical-illusions/991845/20 "2023-10-20T19:31:46Z")
BTW, you can create your own here: > **[IllusionDiffusion - a Hugging Face Space by AP123](https://huggingface.co/spaces/AP123/IllusionDiffusion)** > > Discover amazing ML apps made by the community I bookmarked that weeks ago, didn’t think of anything to try, and then forgot about the page until just now. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-apparently-ai-can-create-amazing-optical-illusions/991845.md?page=2)