%0 Generic %A de Winter, Joost %A Pfeifer, Jenna %A Dodou, Dimitra %A Eisma, Yke Bauke %D 2025 %T Supplementary data for the paper: 'Detecting Midjourney-generated images: An eye-tracking study' %U %R 10.4121/96b5eb59-b9a4-4094-8c47-04c14d57af1a.v1 %K AI-generated images %K Visual attention %K ‘futurism-as-artificiality’ heuristic %X

This study investigated human performance in identifying AI-generated images. In a speeded forced-choice task, 255 participants viewed paired images (one real, one AI-generated by Midjourney) of standard or futuristic cars and buildings and had to identify the AI-generated one, while eye movements were recorded using an eye-tracker. Results revealed a powerful ‘futurism-as-artificiality’ heuristic. Specifically, participants performed poorly (55% correct) when an AI-generated standard image was paired with a real futuristic image Conversely, accuracy was high (91% correct) when the AI-generated futuristic image was paired with a real standard image. Participants' gaze landed first on the AI-generated image more often when it depicted a futuristic design than when it depicted a standard one. The demonstrated heuristic presents a double-edged sword for information veracity: it may lead to the uncritical acceptance of AI-generated misinformation that appears conventional, while simultaneously causing real forward-thinking designs to be dismissed as fake.

%I 4TU.ResearchData