A Decade of AI Image Generation: From Blurry Stop Signs to Photorealism
Key Points
- A Reddit post compared two AI‑generated stop sign images from 2015 and 2025 using the same prompt.
- The 2015 image was created by alignDRAW and appeared blurry and abstract.
- The 2025 image, likely produced by models such as Nano Banana or GPT‑5, demonstrated photorealistic detail.
- The early image was later sold as an NFT at Christie's for over $30,000.
- Newer tools like ByteDance’s Seedream 4.0 generate images that are difficult to distinguish from real photos.
- Advances in AI image generation impact art markets, commercial content creation, and visual authenticity concerns.
- The rapid evolution highlights both opportunities and challenges for future AI‑driven visual media.
A Reddit post highlighted the stark contrast between two AI‑generated images created with the same prompt – a stop sign in a blue sky – one from 2015 and another from 2025. The early image, produced by the alignDRAW model, was blurry and abstract, while the later version, likely using advanced models such as Nano Banana or GPT‑5, displayed crisp details and realistic lighting. The evolution underscores rapid improvements in text‑to‑image technology, exemplified by newer tools like ByteDance’s Seedream 4.0, and raises questions about the future of visual authenticity.
Early Experiments with Text‑to‑Image AI
In 2015, an early text‑to‑image system called alignDRAW generated an image based on the prompt “A stop sign is flying in blue skies.” The result was a blurry red circular object set against a simple blue background. This early effort demonstrated the nascent capability of AI to interpret textual descriptions, but the visual fidelity was limited. The image gained later notoriety when it was identified as the first text‑to‑image artwork ever created and was eventually sold as an NFT at a Christie's auction for over $30,000.
Ten Years of Progress
A recent Reddit post resurfaced the original 2015 artwork alongside a new version produced in 2025 using the same prompt. The newer image, attributed to more sophisticated models—potentially Google’s Nano Banana or OpenAI’s GPT‑5—shows a sharply rendered stop sign with realistic shading, crisp edges, and a convincing sky backdrop. The contrast between the two pictures illustrates a dramatic leap in AI’s ability to generate high‑resolution, photorealistic content from simple textual inputs.
Emerging Tools and Their Impact
Beyond the specific models mentioned, the broader AI community has seen rapid innovation. ByteDance’s Seedream 4.0 model, for example, has been noted for creating images that are “terrifyingly real,” making it difficult for viewers to distinguish AI‑generated visuals from actual photographs. Such advances have fueled frequent releases of new tools, each pushing the boundaries of what AI can produce.
Implications for Art, Commerce, and Perception
The evolution from alignDRAW’s rudimentary output to today’s near‑photographic results has implications across multiple domains. In the art market, the sale of the 2015 image as an NFT highlights how early AI creations can acquire significant monetary value. In commerce, realistic AI‑generated imagery offers new possibilities for marketing, design, and content creation without the need for traditional photography. However, the increasing realism also raises concerns about the potential for misinformation and the erosion of trust in visual media.
Looking Ahead
While the progress over a ten‑year span is striking, observers wonder how far AI image generators will go. The question remains: at what point will generated visuals become indistinguishable from reality, and how will society adapt to that new visual landscape? The Reddit comparison serves as a tangible benchmark, reminding both enthusiasts and skeptics of the rapid pace of AI development.