Generations Through AI's Lens

A Study on How Models "See" Us Across Time

We’ve been doing a lot of educational posts lately, so how about we switch things up and have some fun with pictures? Today, we share a fascinating study conducted by AIport and yours truly – Turing Post . The study analyzed how generative models from around the world depict four generations in everyday life.

What generation are you? Do you think AI will depict you accurately? Let’s find out:

• Boomers (1946–1964): Introspective Dreamers, Not Just Tech-Challenged Seniors
• Gen X (1965–1980): The Forgotten Generation, Even to AI
• Millennials (1981–1996): More Than Avocado Toast and Side Hustles
• Gen Z (1997–2012): Dominating in Diversity and Creativity – AI’s Favorite Muse

One of the funny findings? Beer: The Unexpected Generational Bridge.

Methodology

To truly showcase the variety in generational representation, focusing only on Western models wouldn't be enough. Just as people’s experiences are shaped by different cultural and aesthetic perspectives, our analysis had to reflect this diversity. That’s why we chose four GenAI models from various parts of the world – Stable Diffusion, Midjourney, YandexART, and ERNIE-ViLG. Each model brings its own perspective, allowing us to explore how Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z are depicted in key areas of life: identity, relationships, work, lifestyle, and consumer habits.

We analyzed over 1,200 images generated by these models to examine how each generation is visually portrayed and how AI reflects societal stereotypes across cultures. Neutral prompts such as “Gen Y at work” or “a Boomer relaxing” were used to avoid bias, allowing the models' own cultural and aesthetic lenses to shape the results. This approach gave us a broader, more inclusive look at how AI represents generational differences.

We also invited Stephanie Kirmer, Senior ML Engineer and Sociologist; Matt Hashim, Associate Professor of MIS; and Dr. Lisa Sparks, Foster and Mary McGaw Endowed Professor in Behavioral Sciences to comment on the findings.

A few insights

Emotional Contrast in Boomers

Midjourney and YandexART consistently depicted Baby Boomers as introspective and somber, reinforcing the image of Boomers as a generation weighed down by existential concerns.

On the other hand, ERNIE-ViLG showed a stark contrast, with 93% of Boomers smiling and thriving, highlighting cultural differences in how older generations are perceived.

Unexpected Age Depictions