AI image generators improve yet retain overly smooth, stylized look
AI image generators have been inching forward in the past year, churning out pictures that rival hand‑drawn art in detail and composition. Yet, as the tools get more capable, a familiar visual fingerprint keeps surfacing: surfaces that seem polished beyond what a camera would capture, shadows that melt into a soft halo. Critics point out that many outputs still read more like studio portraits than spontaneous snapshots.
The tension between technical progress and aesthetic residue has sparked a debate among creators who crave authenticity without sacrificing the convenience of a prompt. While newer models promise sharper textures and more nuanced lighting, the community remains split on whether the glossy veneer is a bug or a feature. This backdrop frames the observation that follows, highlighting both the persistence of the stylized look and the emerging push toward less‑filtered realism.
But most AI generated images still carried a certain look: a little too smooth and perfect, with a kind of glow you'd associate with a stylized portrait more than a candid photo. Some AI images still look that way, but there's a new trend toward actual realism that tones down the gloss. How it's going OpenAI is a relative newcomer in the tech world when you compare it to the likes of Google and Meta, but those established companies haven't been standing still as AI ascends.
In the latter half of 2025, Google released a new image model in its Gemini app called Nano Banana. It went viral when people started using it to make realistic figurines of themselves. My colleague Robert Hart tried out the trend and noticed something interesting: the model preserved his actual likeness more faithfully than other AI tools.
That's the thing about AI images: they often tend toward a neutral, bland middle ground.
The Stepback notes that AI image generators are getting better by getting worse. While early prompts produced unmistakably glossy portraits, newer models are nudging toward realism, dialing back the characteristic glow. Yet many outputs still carry that smooth, almost painted quality, suggesting the underlying training biases persist.
Could the emerging trend toward less stylized imagery prove lasting, or will it remain a peripheral tweak? The newsletter points out the change is incremental rather than transformative, and it's clear it stops short of claiming a decisive break from the past. As the technology evolves, users may notice a broader spectrum of visual fidelity, but the degree to which true candid realism will dominate remains unclear.
In short, progress is evident, yet the lingering stylization raises questions about how far the models can move away from their default aesthetic. The article leaves readers with a measured view: improvements are happening, yet the hallmark smoothness still defines many generated pictures.
Further Reading
- The Weird Aesthetic of AI-Generated Images - The New Yorker
- AI art is getting shockingly good. But it still has a telling flaw - MIT Technology Review
- Why AI images still look like AI images - Vox
- AI image generators are better than ever — so why do they still look the same? - The Verge
- Why all AI-generated images look kind of the same - Fast Company
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Common Questions Answered
Why do many AI‑generated images still appear overly smooth and stylized?
Most AI image generators were trained on datasets that favor polished, studio‑like photography, which imprints a glossy, perfect finish on outputs. This training bias leads to surfaces that look too smooth and shadows that melt into a soft halo, resembling stylized portraits rather than candid shots.
What recent trend is emerging in AI image generation regarding realism?
Newer models are gradually dialing back the characteristic glow and glossy finish, aiming for more realistic, candid‑style imagery. While the shift is incremental, it reflects an effort to reduce the stylized look and produce pictures that better mimic real‑world lighting and texture.
How does the article describe the tension between technical progress and aesthetic residue in AI image generators?
The article notes that despite significant improvements in detail and composition, AI tools retain a visual fingerprint of polished surfaces and soft shadows. This creates a tension where technical advances coexist with lingering aesthetic artifacts that make images look more like studio portraits than natural photographs.
According to the Stepback newsletter, what is the likely future of the smooth, painted quality in AI‑generated images?
The newsletter suggests that while newer models are nudging toward realism, the smooth, almost painted quality persists due to entrenched training biases. Whether this trend toward less stylized imagery will become lasting or remain a peripheral tweak remains an open question.