The desperate attempt by the mayor of Australia’s second-largest city to excite residents about dozens of potential new parks has been completely derailed by the use of creepy AI-generated concept images.
Melbourne Mayor Nick Reece took to social media on Sunday to share a series of AI-generated images of some of the parks he has promised to create if he is re-elected next month.
Cr Reece has promised to transform the CBD into the “Garden City” by opening 28 new parks if he returns to the top job.
But the plan fell through after AI images left residents more worried than excited about the new vegetation.
The footage showed a number of confusing gaffes, including two people lying on the ground metres from playing toddlers, a man with two legs fused into one and several extra arms, prompting a range of reactions from bewildered Australians.
“What is your policy on these mutant beings infiltrating Melbourne in your photographs?” one commented.
“Bro, you need to get these people to a hospital,” another said.
A third joked: “Is this after the nukes hit Melbourne, nature takes it back and only mutants survive?”
Melbourne Mayor Nick Reece on Sunday shared a series of AI-generated images of some of the parks he has promised to create if re-elected.
The images showed a number of confusing errors, including two people lying on the ground, a man with two legs fused into one and several extra arms.
Melbourne City Council is due to hold its election in October and Mr Reece has promised to turn the Victorian capital into the “Garden City” by opening 28 new parks.
A fourth wrote: “My favourite is this guy who looks like he’s walking his pet shoe.”
“Why is there a dead person in your park?” said another.
Others questioned why Cr Reece decided to use AI-generated images rather than hire a professional to illustrate his grand vision.
“Please hire a real digital illustrator,” one suggested.
Another asked: ‘Don’t you have enough money to pay concept artists?’
Cr Reece defended his use of AI, jokingly replying: “No humans were harmed in the making of these renders.”
He said the new park initiative will create new green spaces in almost every neighbourhood in Melbourne.
“Victoria was known as the Garden State, and I want Melbourne to be the Garden City. This is the biggest addition to our city’s parks and gardens since Charles La Trobe laid out Melbourne’s parklands in the 1840s,” Cr Reece said.
‘Every great city is defined by its parks and gardens, and with this plan, we are taking Melbourne’s green spaces to the next level.
‘Almost every area of Melbourne will receive at least one new park or green space thanks to this initiative, making our city an even better, greener place to live.’
Commentators questioned why Mr Reece decided to use AI-generated images rather than hire someone to properly illustrate his parks.
One of the images appeared to show a man “walking around in his pet shoe” while others featured extra arms and legs.
Melbourne’s mayor defended his use of AI, jokingly replying: “No human beings were harmed in the making of these performances.”
Some of the spaces to be transformed include Banana Alley Vaults, beneath the West Gate Freeway in Southbank, Moonee Ponds Creek and the boundary of North Melbourne and West Melbourne.
In addition to the areas mentioned above, five new or improved parks will be created in the city centre and Docklands, with the first conversion affecting Brown Alley Square.
The initiative will also open grants to existing building owners to make rooftop gardens or green walls publicly accessible, reform permits to allow more homeowners and businesses to plant gardens on sidewalks and alleys, and support building and business owners in purchasing more plants.
