This 1970s public library doesn’t exist.
One of the things that fascinates me about visual AI generations is how they allow one to peek into the multiverse.
Not the real multiverse, mind you. That hasn’t been proved to exist. But an illusion of a multiverse, with different products, people, animals and buildings, all skewed greatly or slightly from our own reality. A look into some alternate timeline where the death of a butterfly in the Cretaceous era (as in the Ray Bradbury short story “A Sound of Thunder”) drastically changes the world of the future.
Like this picture of a bizarre Christmas dish from some 1950s recipe booklet that never existed.
AI art by Reddit user frostyfoxdesign
Most of these images were done in the spirit of fun, in the vein of satire. That sort of thing’s been going on for ages in MAD magazine and kids’ products like Wacky Packages and Garbage Pail Kids. But AI gives such alt.world digressions such a stunning sense of realness (even though we know it isn’t real) we can’t help but be fooled, even if for a millisecond.
AI art by Reddit user ThatBombShit
These chips could be an actual flavor, given that Lays has created limited-edition chips in the past like BLT and Tikka Masala (the latter very good.) But they aren’t.
AI art by Reddit user POGO_BOY38
There could be a Gettysburg Lego set in the works for all we know. I mean, they’ve already done ikebana. (I know the text gives this one away.)
AI art by Reddit user cool_architect
This novelty record album of dogs barking in tune to songs by the Beatles was never recorded. Though if it was, it would have sold like hotcakes at the height of Beatlemania.
AI art by Reddit user ExoticAd8966
Hipster Harry Potter never stared up into the security camera of his workplace while defiantly smoking a cigar.
AI art by Reddit user AI-Whisperer
Somewhere a jeweler past or present has thought of making a piece of art like this. But no one did, until now, and it’s entirely imaginary.
AI Art by Reddit user Agent_Wolfe
A Thanksgiving parade from the 1960s captured in a faded color photograph with a crying baby spoiling the shot. Note that 1960s toys meant to be endearing back then are beginning to look bizarre to today’s tastes.
AI art by Reddit user Sullen_Sparrow
And finally, Link (of Legend of Zelda fame) appears on a 1980s TV sitcom.
