The Generative AI Hand Issue Solved!

Generated by author using Midjourney

For those using generative AI for creating images, you’ve likely encountered the tell that an image was created using the technology — weird hands. Sometimes it’s an extra digit or two, sometimes it’s digits flexing in weird ways, or morphing into one. In some of the more bizarre incarnations, this imagery is borne of nightmares.

But there’s a solution!

Don’t create human hands. Create lego style images.

At least in playing with Midjourney, the service nails the creation of…

…Lego people.

Except when interacting with other lego people hands, the hands are perfect. Oh, and when the images are not, well — it’s Lego people. They already have some creepy factor built in that this malformation doesn’t trigger our uncanny valley response.

Some other services tested:

Generated by author using Gemini — I hate it when my hand melts into the other person’s hand during a high five.

Generated by author using Dall E.

The takeaway for me is that we can push the limits of technology in order to spark innovation. But when we need to build real things — we need to work within the limitations to create helpful and useful output.