A new study has revealed that people are more likely to believe an image is real if they see it repeatedly even when it’s artificially generated. The research, conducted by Tel Aviv University and international collaborators, highlights the growing risk of visual misinformation in the digital age.
Published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition, the study examined how repeated exposure influences perceptions of authenticity. Drawing on the psychological principle known as the “repetition effect,” researchers found that familiarity can make even AI-generated images appear more truthful.
Participants were shown a mix of real and AI-created images, some of which were repeated. The results showed a clear trend: the more often an image was seen, the more likely it was to be judged as depicting a real event or object. Surprisingly, the effect was particularly strong among self-identified skeptics, suggesting that repetition can override even critical thinking tendencies.
The findings raise important concerns about the influence of repeated visual content particularly on social media where AI-generated images can be shared widely and viewed multiple times. Researchers warn that this can distort public perception and create a false sense of reality.
In light of the study, experts are calling for increased digital literacy and critical awareness to help users navigate and assess the authenticity of visual content online.