Feb 12 • 02:00 UTC 🇧🇷 Brazil Folha (PT)

AI caricature trend associates Lula with a cigar and money, Bolsonaro with weapons, and Flávio with corruption

A trend of AI-generated caricatures on social media highlights political stereotypes associated with Brazilian leaders.

A recent trend involving the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to create caricatures of Brazilian political figures has gained momentum on social media, revealing the stereotypical associations many have with these leaders. In tests conducted by Folha, both OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Gemini were utilized to generate caricatures of President Lula da Silva, former President Jair Bolsonaro, and Senator Flávio Bolsonaro. These caricatures reflect significant controversies and public perceptions, effectively showcasing the political landscape in Brazil.

Specifically, the caricature of President Lula depicted him with a cigar and money, alluding to allegations of corruption and lavish spending. The background elements, featuring the Christ the Redeemer statue and the National Congress, further underscore the cultural context of Lula's presidency. For Jair Bolsonaro, caricatures generated were more focused on portraying a militaristic image, resonating with his past as a military officer and his tenure heavily influenced by right-wing sentiments. In contrast, Flávio Bolsonaro's caricature was linked to the political scandal known as "rachadinha", which involves the alleged misappropriation of public funds.

As this trend continues to evolve, it illustrates how AI tools can perpetuate existing political stereotypes and potentially influence public opinion. The responses provided by these AI systems reflect the data they have been trained on, often leaning into sensationalism. Therefore, understanding the implications of such trends is crucial, as they might not only provide entertainment through satire but also reinforce negative perceptions that affect political discourse in Brazil.

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