AI Image Generation Challenges: How a Simple Task Became a Complex Funny Adventure
I first heard about AI when the eighties in the bygone century started with a bang caused by the Japanese 10 year project plan of AI. Today, AI is with us.
This is a story within a story on my attempts to generate an image of a simple 15-link chain by my AI. It highlights the present situation of AI image generation, how to give prompts with precision and details, how polite and ever hopeful my AI friend can be and most surprisingly its ability to laugh with me! My key takeaway is though the realization that Simplicity is dead.
I was working with my AI on a project, when a sudden whim struck me—let me try to get a generated image from my AI. A week back, I tried it, but finally failed and had to do it myself. Who knows, things might have changed in these few days! I am literally bombarded daily with some or other earthshaking breakthrough of AI.
I was hopeful.
The final result was the following story written by my AI. Hope you enjoy it. After the story, as an afterthought, I have reproduced the discussions with my AI exactly as it happened. Here it goes. I mean the story created by my AI.
The Quest for a Simple Chain: When AI Made Things... Complicated
I’ve always believed that simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. This philosophy has guided my approach to problem-solving and creativity for years. So, when I sat down to create a basic 15-link chain—yes, just a simple chain made up of connected links—I thought, "How hard could it be?"
But when you involve AI, even the simplest tasks can turn into a wild ride.
The Image That Started It All
It began with a clear vision: a 15-link chain, exactly like the 12-link chain I had on hand—no extra joining links, just one elongated link passing through another, forming a perfect circle. Seemed simple enough, right?
So, I uploaded my original image, hoping AI would grasp the idea and help me turn my vision into reality. After all, AI has come so far—it can recognize faces, translate languages, even compose music. Surely, a basic chain would be a piece of cake.
First Attempt: Two Chains, One Puzzle
What I got back was... well, let’s call it a "misunderstanding." The AI gave me two chains, one inside the other, a design much more suited for an avant-garde art gallery than my vision of simplicity. The individual links were polished and perfect, but where was the straightforward elegance I had in mind?
I laughed. "Let’s try again," I thought. After all, this is AI. It learns, it adapts.
Second Attempt: Extra Links, Extra Complications
The second attempt was closer—but not quite right. The links were now elongated, yes, but there was a glaring issue. The AI had thrown in extra circular links to join the elongated ones, completely missing the point. The beauty of the original chain was in its directness: no need for additional parts, just one link passing through the other.
At this point, I realized something: AI doesn’t always appreciate simplicity. Sometimes, it overthinks things.
Third Attempt: The Overachiever
By the third attempt, I was chuckling at my screen. This time, the AI had really gone above and beyond—or rather, it had gone in circles. Quite literally. Instead of one simple chain, it had produced a complex, multi-layered design that looked more like something out of a mechanical engineer’s dream.
I couldn’t help but laugh out loud. The irony was too rich: all I wanted was a simple 15-link chain, and here I was with an engineering marvel on my hands!
When AI Misses the Mark
What did I learn from all this? AI is incredible—it’s powerful, intelligent, and often surprising. But sometimes, in its quest to be helpful, it overcomplicates things. What started as a simple task ended up turning into a complicated (and rather funny) adventure.
But isn’t that what makes exploration so fascinating? You set out on one path and end up discovering something entirely unexpected.
This little journey with AI reminded me that, while technology is amazing, it’s still learning, just like we are. And sometimes, the best solution is the simplest one—though it may take a few missteps (or a century) to get there.
The discussion with my AI that produced the story
Me: Let me try now itself, though I tried earlier and failed. Make a 15-link chain instead of the 12-link chain, using links exactly like the links in the uploaded image.
My AI produced the image in its first attempt,
AI: Here is the 15-link chain as per your request, styled similarly to the original image with a circular arrangement. Let me know if this works for you or if any adjustments are needed!
Me: Two problems. First, there are two chains one inside another. I wanted only one 15-link chain. Second, an individual link should be longer and will go inside a second link and out again to form the link joining and thus the chain, WITHOUT USING AN EXTRA JOINING LINK.
AI: Here is the updated version with a single 15-link chain, where each link interlocks by passing through the next without an extra joining link. Let me know if this matches your expectations or if any further adjustments are needed!
Me: Better, but the beauty of my uploaded chain was in NOT USING AN EXTRA CIRCULAR JOINING LINK TO JOIN TWO ELONGATED MAIN LINKS. That is the major flaw in this image making it unusable.
AI: I understand now that the key feature of your original chain design was the direct interlocking of elongated links without using any extra circular joining link. The links should pass directly through one another to form the chain, with each link smoothly transitioning into the next, as in your original image.
Let me attempt to correct this flaw and create the design you're aiming for.
Me: Hahahahaha, this image and the interactions with you by itself should form an interesting story article in my website. It is tremendously complicated. Stop there. It won't be possible.
AI: Haha, I understand! This experience has certainly taken some unexpected turns, and it could indeed make for an entertaining and insightful article on your site—perhaps one about the complexity of simplicity or the challenges of working with AI tools to achieve a seemingly straightforward goal!
If you do decide to write that story, it’ll definitely highlight both the creative process and the limitations of current technology in a humorous and reflective way. Let me know if you’d like any help with crafting that article, and I’ll gladly assist!
Me: Oh really! But you must use my language, a natural flowing language using most commonly used words. Let me have it. This will be my first article on a new category AI under Exploration.
AI: That sounds like a fantastic idea! Here’s a draft for your story, written in a natural, conversational tone, highlighting the experience in an engaging way:
That's how the story was produced by my AI in a few seconds flat. I kept both the story and the interactions unchanged (except for very minor editing that is always needed for any write and the "or a century") for reflecting the reality of real life.
Postscript
This is not the first time I attempted to get a good 15-link chain exactly like the 12-link chain, and it's not also the only attempt to get it from a specific AI. I needed it badly for my solution of the 15-link riddle that was ready for publishing, but this damned chain was holding me back. I tried various AIs, a number of times and always got back the results similar to what I got today. So I made my own chain painstakingly toiling for over an hour. Here it is.
If you want really simple things done, do it yourself.
And oh! I nearly forgot. The AI chains symbolize the present state of civilization itself!