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Arts & Communication AI in teacher education and critical thinking

Therefore, it is essential to analyze the purpose behind the strengthening our logical reasoning and our ability to
image: what message does it seem to convey, what data argue soundly.
or instructions might have guided its creation, and does In short, educating citizens with critical thinking and
it reflect biases, stereotypes, or cultural influences? These media literacy is an urgent task that will not only strengthen
questions invite us to reflect on the relationship between democracies but also prepare people to navigate in an
technology and human intentions, helping us to identify increasingly complex world, contributing to a more solid
how technological tools can influence our perceptions.
and conscious social coexistence.
We must also teach students to perform detailed visual
analysis. AI-generated images are often rich in elements 3. Discussion
such as colors, shapes, styles, and compositions. Stopping The analysis shows that technologically processed images
to observe these details allows us to reflect on what they are often simplified or incomplete since the machines
evoke in us and to question whether the visual elements are work with formal structures that do not encompass all the
consistent with the perceived message. This type of analysis richness and complexity of our original ideas. However,
strengthens our ability to critically observe, identify they can also offer something transformative, such as new
inconsistencies, and appreciate the nuances of images.
connections or perspectives that we had not considered.
A key aspect of this process is to assess the authenticity In this sense, they do not simply mimic our thinking, but
and credibility of these representations. AI-created sometimes extend, reinterpret, or challenge it.
images may appear strikingly realistic, but because they The democratized access among young people to mobile
are synthetic, they raise questions about their relationship apps that convert conventional images into deepfakes
to reality. Questioning whether an image is authentic is increasingly present. It is no longer necessary to have
or manipulated and whether it might be designed to advanced computer knowledge in the use of programs, but,
influence or mislead, fosters our ability to distinguish at the user level, anyone with a mobile device can make
between the real and the fabricated, an essential skill in deepfakes. This power, coupled with the efficiency of social
a world saturated with visual information. At present, networks, means that in many cases, the origin of these
people distinguish deepfakes by observing features such
as the blinking of the eyes. Since these fake videos present images cannot be traced. We must make responsible use
distensions, as well as artificial contractions, there is an of new technologies so that they serve to create knowledge
inconsistency between the time and the images in which and improve society, and not the opposite.
the possible bodies appear. On the other hand, with the For this, “an educational development that promotes
evolution of these new technologies, we will most likely the protection of what makes us progress socially and
end up not knowing how to differentiate between them legitimizes us as individuals, that protects and provides
due to the high technical level and degree of realism. The those collective (horizontal) relations and, no doubt,
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abundance of these images means that we are not attentive acts against the structure of the (vertical) relations of
to everything that comes our way, under that halo of power established – allegedly – behind the back of the
familiarity an anodyne and indifferent image can be false, social group” 33, p. 2 is necessary. These images, created in
and we do not realize it. many cases by these powers, work in social engineering
Ethical reflection also plays a crucial role. When without us having the capacity to react to them for lack
analyzing these images, it is important to question what of warning.
impact they may have on those who view them and to 3.1. AI-generated fictional recreations
consider possible ethical issues associated with their
creation or use, such as the reproduction of bias or cultural AI can create images quickly and efficiently, exploring
appropriation. In addition, reflecting on the responsibility styles, colors, and concepts that would take a human being a
of technology creators and users in their appropriate long time. This makes it an ideal tool for conceptualization
use helps us to connect this analysis to a broader ethical in fields such as graphic design, film, video games, or
framework. architecture. Moreover, these tools democratize access to
creativity, allowing people with no technical knowledge
Another fundamental element of critical thinking
is the contrast of perspectives. Comparing different in design or art to generate impressive images, making AI
accessible to a wide variety of users.
interpretations of the same image allows us to understand
how cultural or personal experiences influence perception. On the other hand, the originality of AI-generated
Exploring opposing arguments or debating the purpose images can be questioned, as they are based on patterns
of the image helps us evaluate multiple points of view, learned from pre-existing data, combining them without

Volume 3 Issue 3 (2025) 8 doi: 10.36922/ac.5047