Simulacra in the Age of AI: Baudrillard and the Hyperreality of Generated Signs
From Lascaux II to the Matrix. AI art Introduction The rapid proliferation of artificial intelligence has transformed how texts, images, and even voices are produced. These outputs often have no direct counterpart in the world—they are generated patterns, assembled from prior data but not tied to any original source. How should we interpret a photograph of a person who never lived, or an essay created without authorial intent? Jean Baudrillard’s Simulacra and Simulation (1981/1994) offers a striking conceptual framework. His theory of simulation, the four phases of the image, and the emergence of hyperreality illuminate not only the logic of media culture in general but also the particular dynamics of AI-generated content. The Fate of the Image At the outset of The Precession of Simulacra , Baudrillard outlines four successive stages in the destiny of the image: Reflection : The image reflects a profound reality—a portrait or religious icon that purports to mirror som...