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2026-04-07 Synthetic Photography SIG meeting notes We met online using ZOOM 6:00pm-8:55pm You are invited to join us on ZOOM for the "Synthetic Photography SIG". I expect that this will be a controversial SIG as the topic of AI generated art seems to polarize people into 2 camps, they either love the concept that now they can make beautiful art or they hate the idea that "unskilled" people can make better art than they can. I am sure that we will have different views, but I hope that we can get along and respect everyone's views. I want to expand the focus of the Synthetic Photography SIG to include other image editing tools and techniques while maintaining our main focus on AI tools and techniques. "Freedom of speech is a principle that supports the freedom of an individual or a community to articulate their opinions and ideas without fear of retaliation, censorship, or legal sanction. The right to freedom of expression has been recognised as a human right in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and international human rights law." - Wikipedia ATTENDEES 1. We discussed Evoto professional headshot generator 2. We discussed one painters view of AI 3. We discussed AI Whistleblower video 4. We briefly discussed "Are AI guard rails necessary, good, or bad?"
RESOURCES (Where you can find sources of inspiration) Don’t Buy a New Computer in 2026! (Even for AI Use – Here’s Why) AGENDA FOR OUR NEXT SYNTHETIC PHOTOGRAPHY SIG MEETING - Tue 5/5/2026 @6:00pm If there is anything related to AI that you would like to discuss at our SIG meeting, please email me so I can add them to our agenda. Please email Mike, info@fcdcc.com, when you find mistakes, missing information or if you have suggestions for the Synthetic Photography SIG and I will try to address the issues. Thanks, --------------------------- Meeting Summary from ZOOM ----------------------- Quick recapThe meeting focused on discussing AI tools and their impact, particularly around photography and content creation. The group explored Evoto, a photo editing tool that uses AI to handle professional headshot photography and other image processing tasks, discussing its features, pricing structure, and how it competes with traditional photography services. The conversation then expanded to broader AI topics, including a detailed discussion about OpenAI's history and leadership conflicts between Sam Altman and Elon Musk, the role of AI guardrails and ethical guidelines, and concerns about AI's impact on employment across different industries. The group also discussed real-world applications of AI in self-driving cars, with participants sharing experiences about Tesla's autonomous driving capabilities, and examined a chart showing projected AI adoption rates across various job categories, highlighting which professions are most vulnerable to automation. Next steps
SummaryEvoto Photo Editing Tool DiscussionThe group discussed Evoto, a photo editing tool primarily used by professional photographers. Mike explained its features, pricing structure, and capabilities, including portrait editing, background editing, and various retouching tools. The discussion covered how Evoto works with raw files and uses a credit-based system where users are charged per export. Jack shared insights from an F-Stoppers video interview with Evoto's head of marketing, revealing details about their technical implementation and the decision to discontinue their free web tool after it affected professional photographers' business. AI Photography Market DiscussionThe group discussed a company called Avoda, which is a privately held AI-powered photography service based in Singapore. They explored how the company might be using Google's AI technology and discussed the potential for consolidation in the AI photography market. The conversation then shifted to a New York Times article about a software developer who created an AI-powered business to sell weight loss drugs, generating over $400 million in revenue in the first year and projected to reach $1.8 billion annually. The group discussed the legal and regulatory aspects of selling prescription drugs without a pharmacy license. AI Development and Ethics DiscussionMike shared insights from a video about painting competition judges rejecting works based on photographs not owned by the artist or AI-generated images. He then discussed a podcast interview with Karen Howe, an AI expert, who highlighted the tension between profit-driven AI development and public benefit. The conversation covered OpenAI's evolution from a non-profit to a for-profit company in 2019, the leadership transition between Elon Musk and Sam Altman, and the ongoing legal dispute between Elon Musk and OpenAI regarding their mission to benefit humanity. AI Impact on Society DiscussionThe group discussed the future of AI and its impact on society. Mike shared insights about former OpenAI employees who left due to concerns about the company's direction under Sam Altman. The conversation then shifted to whether AI could replace human roles, particularly in parenting, with participants agreeing that while AI could handle some tasks, it currently cannot provide the emotional nurturing that humans can. The discussion concluded with thoughts on how AI might affect taxation systems, with Jim Limburg raising questions about how other countries tax intellectual property and digital services. Intellectual Property Taxation and AIThe group discussed the potential taxation and licensing of intellectual property, particularly in the context of digital content like Netflix shows and AI technology. They explored how licensing agreements currently work across different countries, though specific details about taxation revenue were unclear. The conversation then shifted to concerns about AI capabilities and potential risks, with participants referencing both fictional examples like Data from Star Trek and real-world incidents involving AI's impact on individuals. The discussion concluded with speculative thoughts about AI potentially taking over political institutions and governing without physical entities, though this idea was left unfinished. AI in Legal System DiscussionThe group discussed the role of AI in the legal system, including its potential as a judge or jury. They debated the necessity and effectiveness of AI guardrails, with Mike arguing that market forces would likely address inappropriate content, while Rich expressed concerns about AI impartiality. The conversation also touched on recent court cases regarding tech companies' responsibility for addictive products and concluded with a lighthearted discussion about bird-watching apps using AI. AI Guidelines and Bias ChallengesThe group discussed the challenges and biases in AI guidelines and content moderation, particularly focusing on political bias and the impact on elections. They explored examples of how existing guidelines can miss cultural nuances and how profit motives might influence future guidelines. The conversation also touched on parental controls and societal efforts to restrict harmful content for younger users. AI Guidelines Implementation ChallengesThe group discussed the challenges of implementing guidelines for AI and technology use, particularly focusing on age-appropriate content and cultural differences. Rich explained the concept of dynamic pricing in restaurants and retail, while Chris shared an example from a novel about the importance of training AI models on appropriate content for their intended audience. The discussion highlighted the difficulty of creating universal guidelines due to varying cultural, political, and regional perspectives, with Jim Limburg noting how different countries approach technology regulation, such as China's screening requirements for social media. China's Tech Advancement and AIThe group discussed China's technological advancement and its implications for global competition. Jim Limburg noted that Chinese resources have been underestimated and highlighted historical parallels with Japan's industrial growth. The conversation then shifted to AI development, where Mike explained how various AI company CEOs believe they need to be in control of AI development to ensure it leads to human flourishing rather than destruction. The discussion concluded with observations about how AI companies are prioritizing development in fields like finance, law, and healthcare due to their potential for generating revenue. Autonomous Vehicle Technology DiscussionThe group discussed autonomous vehicle technology, with participants sharing experiences about Tesla's self-driving capabilities. Paul described a recent experience where his friend's Tesla successfully drove from a restaurant to his house without incident, including navigating to the correct driveway. The discussion highlighted both the advanced capabilities and current limitations of autonomous vehicles, including challenges with road markings, unexpected situations, and weather conditions. The conversation also touched on safety statistics, with Chris noting that Waymo's accident rates are significantly lower than human drivers, though accidents involving autonomous vehicles still generate substantial media attention. AI Adoption Across Industries SurveyThe group discussed Anthropic's survey on AI capabilities and employment impact, which showed a gap between theoretical AI potential and current implementation across different industries. They examined various sectors, noting that while AI is expected to handle significant portions of tasks in management, business, math, computers, and architecture/engineering, manual jobs like landscaping and plumbing may remain less affected due to social acceptance barriers or cost considerations. The discussion touched on how technology is already transforming industries like agriculture through GPS-controlled equipment and robotic systems, though some sectors like food service and ground maintenance are expected to see lower AI adoption. AI Impact on Employment DiscussionThe group discussed the impact of AI on employment, particularly in entry-level and professional positions. Mike shared examples of companies like Klarna automating processes and reducing human workforce while increasing efficiency and revenue. The discussion also touched on the challenges of hiring in the current AI-driven environment, with Steven Bartlett highlighting the difficulty of finding candidates who offer unique value through experience, curiosity, and people skills. The conversation briefly veered into sports, with Rich expressing concern about the potential for AI to replace human athletes in the future, though others noted the significant gap between human and robotic capabilities in sports. AI and Employment Impact DiscussionThe group discussed the impact of AI and automation on employment, noting that while some entry-level jobs are being automated, new types of skilled positions are being created. They explored how AI could enhance human capabilities rather than replace them entirely, particularly in fields like chemistry and engineering. The conversation touched on concerns about the speed of technological change and its effect on young people entering the job market with traditional skills, though they noted that certain fields like healthcare and engineering still have relatively low levels of AI adoption. AI Impact Across Industries DiscussionThe group discussed the impact of AI on various industries, particularly in healthcare and automation. They debated how AI serves as a tool to assist radiologists rather than replace them, and noted differences in how AI is perceived and implemented across different regions, especially between the US and Europe. The conversation also touched on practical aspects of payment methods and data centers, with participants sharing local experiences about credit card surcharges and new data center developments in their communities. The conversation ended with a brief discussion about an upcoming presentation on the night sky by Stan Honda and the announcement of a new camera club meeting on Tuesdays at the Museum of Contemporary Art.
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