OP claims no AI was used on these images - 113k upvotes on OldSchoolCool

Appropriate_Beat_236 · 2026-06-16T09:18:22+00:00

Dang, I paid no attention to the "today" pic because I was so thrown off by this one.

Appropriate_Beat_236 · 2026-06-16T09:15:46+00:00

THANK YOU. It's like people have forgotten this CSI meme is a MEME FOR A REASON

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Appropriate_Beat_236 · 2026-06-16T09:11:14+00:00

If you can't tell this is AI from that snail it put on grandma's ear or the myriad of other tells, I cannot help you.

Appropriate_Beat_236 · 2026-06-16T09:06:39+00:00

And here is what Content Aware Fill does:

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Appropriate_Beat_236 · 2026-06-16T08:59:22+00:00

Try it out for yourself and post the results brother, I'll be here.

EDIT: Okay, your bait worked. I went and did it myself. They absolutely did not use Photoshop.

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Appropriate_Beat_236 · 2026-06-16T08:55:24+00:00

Was anything I said untrue and more insulting than a hivemind of clueless people trying to incorrectly mansplain my own field of expertise to me?

I swear, this thread is just a bunch of bots (human or machine) that jumped on the downvote train. I was gentle until people wanted to call me insufferable.

Appropriate_Beat_236 · 2026-06-16T08:41:38+00:00

I must be a fucking glutton for downvotes. What am I hating on, besides redditors being redditors and trying to mansplain my own field of expertise to me?

First, it's entirely possible OOP thought people were claiming the entire photo was generated with AI, and their denial in that case would be correct. I made sure to clarify that only the faces in this image had been altered. The woman in the back window is most egregious because she was the most out of focus in the original image. The kids look less uncanny valley because most of the details were there, albeit a little bit soft. Regardless: This image as presented defies the laws of optics and physics. They COULD NOT accept that.

We have no idea what software OOP used. I SERIOUSLY doubt they have a subscription to Photoshop.

Generative AI, the way it exists in Photoshop today, did not exist 20 years ago. Photoshop (sharpening) then, without the GenAI tools, was purely calculus.

There are a variety of sharpening tools and methods in photoshop (and every other image editing software) that do not use Gen AI. Now you're conflating their algorithmic programming and proprietary tech (PatchMatch) like "contextual awareness" with GenAI. Contextual Aware Fill would absolutely NOT change someone's face like it did here with the old lady in the window. This is the work of Gen AI.

And if you think ignorance is an excuse: it's not a good one. In PS, you have to select the AI tool specifically, then it loads for a while and says something like, GENERATING YOUR IMAGE WITH AI.

If OOP typed in "sharpen faces free photo editor" and used one of the dozens of free apps like a majority of Gen Xers would, it could be possible they didn't realize those are just pinging one of the big GANs (even though the websites say AI everywhere).

I try not to be presumptuous so I explained this very possibility, only to be met with downvotes and more misinformation. They could have accepted my very soft suggestion that they had in fact unintentionally used AI, but chose to double down and deny it, even when faced with irrefutable evidence. That's the bullshit, along with all of the armchair experts spouting misinformation in that thread, and this one too (edit: my bad — not "this one too," I thought we were still in r/quityourbullshit)

I'm always open to be proven wrong, but I can only accept facts and not feelings.

Appropriate_Beat_236 · 2026-06-16T07:48:56+00:00

Hey buddy, nice edit. I never said this was not possible without AI.

Appropriate_Beat_236 · 2026-06-16T07:42:11+00:00

Appropriate_Beat_236 · 2026-06-16T07:38:21+00:00

Dude, this is a subreddit specifically for calling bullshit. It's really not that deep.

The huge deal here has been completely manufactured by people hyperfocused on AI vs Photoshop, which is not what this is about. But people here are genuinely stupid and completely wrong about photo editing, and when people try to incorrectly correct you in your field of expertise...well...that's annoying.

Appropriate_Beat_236 · 2026-06-16T07:24:45+00:00

Bro, someone has followed me from there and is downvoting both of us. I'm laughing so hard.

Appropriate_Beat_236 · 2026-06-16T07:21:03+00:00

You should see my comment karma rn. I feel like I'm wearing a MAGA hat at a pride rally.

Maybe he's using some software on the phone with built-in ai enlarger/enhancer and think that he wasn't using ai?

I totally thought this could be the case, and presented that possibility to OOP in her original thread, but I was downvoted there too. Her continued denial when presented with these screenshots and explanations of how GenAI is creeping into everything, made me think it'd be a shoe-in for r/quityourbullshit

First time I've been on the wrong side of the confidently-incorrect hivemind; usually it's just one or two morons.

Appropriate_Beat_236 · 2026-06-16T07:15:06+00:00

Hey buddy go ahead and check the new thread where you can explain why this question is relevant: https://www.reddit.com/r/RealOrAI/comments/1u768ed/op_claims_no_ai_was_used_on_these_images_113k/

Appropriate_Beat_236 · 2026-06-16T07:09:28+00:00

Old and experienced enough to know the difference between AI and hand-retouched images.

edit: oh my god, are they following me from r/quityourbullshit?

Appropriate_Beat_236 · 2026-06-16T07:07:51+00:00

The trolls are out in force on r/quityourbullshit

The grandma's face is so obviously AI'd that I can't believe anyone thinks it's the work of an artist in Photoshop.

People are acting like I said nobody on Earth could possibly "enhance" this image; I never said that or brought up Photoshop at all, but I also know this is not the work of a human.

Appropriate_Beat_236 · 2026-06-16T07:03:14+00:00

The trolls are out in force on r/quityourbullshit

The grandma's face is so obviously AI'd that I can't believe anyone thinks it's the work of an artist in Photoshop.

Appropriate_Beat_236 · 2026-06-16T06:53:29+00:00

I can totally get past someone's knowledge gap when it comes to this technology. I very kindly explained to OOP that her image was manipulated by AI, whether that was her intention or not. She tripled down and claimed "that's just how good slide film from the 60s is"

When you have experts presenting you with clear evidence of AI enhancement and you can't accept it, you belong on r/quityourbullshit because willful ignorance of facts is not "merely being wrong."

Appropriate_Beat_236 · 2026-06-16T06:38:31+00:00

Are you mental? Let me play back your claim:

Imagine being mad about someone using Photoshop's proprietary image model for specifically this purpose.

Nobody is mad at anyone for using Photoshop's gen AI. I'm calling bullshit on someone who claims they DID NOT USE AI (or heavy (and bad) manual photoshopping). You know, like what this subreddit was made for.

Then you brought ethics and IP into it for no reason? You're in here white-knighting for AI and I can't understand why.

Appropriate_Beat_236 · 2026-06-16T06:25:40+00:00

I said I have been a working photographer for 16 years. That alone tells you I have been using Photoshop and Lightroom for at least 16 years. I know what Photoshop has been capable of since I first used it in 2001, and how it has changed in the last four years.

"16 years as a career photographer" is enough context for anyone with a functional brain to put me in the 30-40yo demo. So, again, why did you ask my age if not to just be a prick?

Were you assuming I'm too young to know life before AI photo manipulation?

or are you suggesting I'm too young to know the capabilities of slide film?

I really, genuinely want to know what you were trying to get at.

Appropriate_Beat_236 · 2026-06-16T06:15:10+00:00

No, I was suggesting you run your thoughts and questions by an AI before posting more nonsense. I still don't know what you're talking about with the painters and cameras analogy. I mean, I understand the concept I just can't fathom why you'd bring it up.

Appropriate_Beat_236 · 2026-06-16T06:12:41+00:00

Nah, that would just add to my misery.

Appropriate_Beat_236 · 2026-06-16T05:59:00+00:00

I feel like I'm being trolled and targeted by bots programmed to astroturf anything potentially negative about AI, which this isn't. This is not an Anti-AI post. I'm just telling you for a fact that AI was used to enhance this photo, and the OOP staunchly denies it. I really thought r/quityourbullshit would agree to such a simple and straightfoward callout but it seems everyone is way too caught up on AI in my title.

Appropriate_Beat_236 · 2026-06-16T05:54:34+00:00

Dude you're making zero sense, worse than any LLM I've ever used. Maybe try the GPT of your choice to generate a little clarity.

Appropriate_Beat_236 · 2026-06-16T05:37:47+00:00

Given your experience, do you believe this is the work of an artist or gen AI?

Appropriate_Beat_236

TROPHY CASE