A.I. Is Creating Fake Firearms. Here's How To Spot Them

An interesting reader email found its way into our inbox that sparked a discussion among Guns & Ammo staff. The reader asked if we could identify a revolver he had seen as the headline image for an online gun publication. The article was titled “Top 10 Micro Pistols Under $300.” The problem was that the revolver doesn't exist! It was a fake gun generated by artificial intelligence (AI).

The topic of “AI” is not new to the writing and editorial team. New technology known as “Large Language Models,” or “LLMs” allow users to create pages of text with a simple prompt, which can then be further refined using more prompts and edits. Be advised: AI is being used to generate media, academic papers and publications at a pace that humans can’t keep up with. At first, some joked that “robots” would soon be doing our jobs. As more businesses look to integrate AI in multiple roles, we have to look at it more seriously.

Unanimously, Guns & Ammo’s editorial staff agreed to keep AI out of composing Guns & Ammo’s articles, both in print and online. This applies to AI-­generated artwork, too. While the ease of use and sheer content output of LLMs may seem enticing, there are two key flaws with using AI to create content — especially about firearms. AI is imitative, not innovative, and AI is prone to being influenced by the person prompting it.

When I write that AI is “imitative,” I mean that it does not create new ideas. Large language models operate per the namesake, taking already available information, learning from it, and generating an answer to a given question. When reviewing products, it helps to actually use the product. If AI were asked to describe the features of a rifle in detail, it would essentially return the same answer that reading the bullet points off a box would, perhaps more verbose. Additionally, when AI searches for an answer, it may plagiarize established publications.

AI models are designed to prioritize giving users an answer to their question, but not necessarily the correct answers. In June 2023, two New York lawyers were caught using ChatGPT to draft a legal brief. The brief cited supporting cases that did not exist. AI simply wanted to provide an answer that satisfied the lawyers’ request at face value. 

The same concern can be applied to guns. When asking AI for advice on topics such as “firearm maintenance,” “recommendations,” “ballistic data” or “reloading,” there is no guarantee that the answer is factual. With firearms, such misinformation can be deadly.

Images of AI guns need to be addressed, too. To demonstrate how easy it is to create images — and how to tell which are fake — I used generative AI image software provided by Shutterstock to create a “standard” revolver. I used this software specifically because images generated using it are copyright-­free and, if using a paid account, are allowed for commercial use. The revolver was generated using AI with the prompt “A stainless steel revolver with walnut grips on a wooden tabletop.” Like text, the images generated by AI take existing images of the subject matter to create so-called “new” artwork.

While AI does have some uses, it’s important to treat it as just a tool in the toolbox. It’s not the “Swiss Army Knife” many seem to think it is. Have questions on AI or if a gun is fake? Email us at gaeditor@outdoorsg.com with the subject line “Sound Off.” We’ll be happy to help. 

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