Realistic AI-generated climate disaster images decrease support for climate action when artificial origin is suspected
https://www.nature.com/articles/s44458-026-00092-0
Publish Date: 2026-05-20 04:15:00
Source Domain: www.nature.com
- Study Design: The article consists of three studies involving a total of 2,580 participants examining the effects of visual realism in AI-generated images of climate disasters on individuals’ willingness to make personal sacrifices for climate action.
- Emotional Effects: High visual realism AI-generated images significantly increased harm-oriented emotions (fear, sadness, guilt, and despair) and perceived threat to freedom, but also psychological reactance.
- Persuasive Impact: Despite the heightened emotional responses, high visual realism images did not yield a persuasive advantage over low-realism or text-only conditions, as the increased psychological reactance offset the positive effects on climate action willingness.
- Perceived Image Origin: Study 3 found that perceiving the high realism image as AI-generated reduced perceived trustworthiness and willingness to make personal sacrifices for climate action, compared to when the image was perceived as a real photograph or when only the text was presented.
