From rags to riches: AI-art reveals stark contrast of billionaires and poverty

Digital artist Gokul Pillai has created a series of AI-generated images showing some of the world's wealthiest figures as if shorn of their wealth. The series includes seven billionaires: Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Reliance Industries MD Mukesh Ambani, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, former US President Donald Trump, and Berkshire Hathaway’s CEO Warren Buffett. The billionaires were all portrayed dressed in rags and placed in a slum setting. The AI-generated photos were shared on his Instagram handle and created a buzz on social media.

The images were created with the help of an Artificial Intelligence (AI) program called "Midjourney." Pillai made some minor revisions and color corrections using Photoshop and Lightroom to give the images the same aesthetic as his usual photographs. The concept was inspired by the movie "Slumdog Millionaire." Pillai initially intended to create images of Indian politicians dressed in slumwear but changed his mind during the creation process.

The images quickly went viral, garnering over 10,000 likes and several views on social media. Many viewers took to the comment sections to share their reactions, with some expressing disbelief at the realistic appearance of the images. Many found the images hilarious and a welcome departure from the typical portrayal of the world's popular billionaires.

Elon Musk's appearance w as one of the most interesting among all the images. Despite being portrayed in rags, he still managed to maintain a wealthy appearance. The comments section was filled with users expressing their amusement and disbelief at the images. Many felt that the concept was a perfect juxtaposition of the world's wealthiest individuals and the stark reality of poverty.

Pillai is a travel photographer and digital artist based in Mysore, India, and works as an Openshift Administrator for Infosys. The viral success of the AI-generated images has given Pillai a significant boost in visibility. His Instagram handle contains many other AI-generated images exploring a variety of concepts.

The images have reignited the debate on the widening wealth gap, with some users expressing their dissatisfaction with the way a few billionaires have hoarded vast wealth while others suffer. While the images are meant to be humorous, they also indicate the stark contrast between the world's haves and have-nots.

The AI-generated images are an excellent example of the intersection between technology and art. They showcase the incredible potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in creative fields and the almost limitless possibilities of digital art. Pillai's work is a testament to the fact that the boundaries of digital art are constantly being pushed and expanded.