Images & Imaginaries: Reflections on a New Paradigm of Ethnographic Images in Business

Abstract

This presentation delves into the speculated impact of AI-generated images on ethnographic practice. Navigating through the data privacy challenges associated with sharing respondent photos with clients, AI-generated images offer a unique medium for documenting and creating ethnographic imagery within a business context. However, this innovation introduces a new form of friction: where should the boundary be drawn between authentic representation and manipulation of reality? And what implications might this have on our practice at large? This presentation aspires to initiate a dialogue, encouraging practitioners to contemplate their role in adopting this technology.