AI vs. Human-Made Imagery: Our Brains Care Who Created the Images
Generative AI now makes many of the images we see each day. These images affect our well-being and how we connect with others and the world. Research shows that our brains react differently to images depending on who created them, even when they look identical.
The difference isn’t about appearance, it’s about meaning and sensing intent.
The Psychology of Authorship
When we look at an image, we notice more than just its visual parts. We also pick up on the creator’s intention and humanity. Studies show that the story behind an image shapes how people feel about it. Who made it and why affects how we connect with it and what it means to us.
In short, our brains care about who creates images and how they are made, because human connection helps give images their meaning.
AI-generated images lack the same human spark or creative story. Even if they look beautiful, people may feel they are empty because they miss the sense of humanity, real experience, and intention.
Why This Matters in Clinical Work
In therapy, this shift is significant. Many individuals express discomfort or grief as AI enters their creative and symbolic spaces. The absence of a human creator can feel like the loss of a witness to one’s experience.
These changes are subtle yet meaningful. Even when people appreciate the appearance of AI images, they often find human-made art more meaningful. The creative process, including its rhythm and sensory flow, is lost when creation occurs with a single click.
Some individuals relate to AI as if it were a wise or caring partner, which can blur boundaries.
Working Thoughtfully With AI Imagery
AI is not inherently harmful, but it requires thoughtful use. Clinicians can help clients explore how authorship, meaning, and connection interact in this evolving context. Consider the following:
Encourage individuals to notice what feels absent when there is no human creator behind the image.
Discuss openly what “making” means, and identify where the human voice is present or absent.
Use AI imagery as a starting point for symbolic exploration, rather than as a finished product.
Emphasize the distinction between the visible product and the experiential process.
Reclaiming the Humanness
Our preference for human-made images is rooted in neurology. We seek meaning through relationship and presence. Even as AI transforms the digital landscape and creative practices, our desire for authentic connection persists.
People respond to both images and the sense of someone behind them. This relational quality influences therapeutic relationships, the arts, and interpersonal connections.
As technology advances, it is essential that we remain connected to our creativity and to one another.
by Dr. Amy Vail and Alli Fischenich