Artificial intelligence (AI) has been all the hype lately.
The dawn of AI-generated images on the internet has many people wondering if some photos they now see online are real. It is true; some AI images are so realistic that it is hard, if not sometimes impossible to tell the difference.
When prompted with various descriptions of natural resources across Canada, we were curious about what this new software would create for us. So, here are several AI-generated images of Canadian natural resources in various provinces and territories, with some interesting results! Also see:
Canadian Offshore Oil
Prompt: an offshore drilling rig in the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador. This drilling rig is very large and is in the middle of the ocean.
Verdict: that many support legs makes my eyes cross!
Canadian Natural Gas
Prompt: a large natural gas plant in the prairies of Alberta, with the Rocky Mountains on the horizon behind the facility.
Verdict: this is almost reminiscent of an actual natural gas plant in Alberta but with unfamiliar mountain peaks.
Canadian Oil Sands
Prompt: a steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) oil sands operation in Northern Alberta with several pads.
Verdict: not bad, but not quite; however, notice the multi-well pads in the background, now that's bang on!
Canadian Liquefied Natural Gas
Prompt: a realistic-looking liquefied natural gas tanker off the coast of British Columbia, sailing away from land into and/or towards the ocean. 
Verdict: not sure if there are LNG tankers with one single large storage hull like that, but close enough!
Canadian Forestry
Prompt: a logging truck deep in the woods in Quebec, travelling down a logging road after it has loaded up with freshly cut trees.
Verdict: let’s hope those logs are tied down properly!
Canadian Seafood
Prompt: a family fishing boat off the coast of New Brunswick with its fishing nets thrown into the water, waiting for them to fill up.
Verdict: if it wasn’t for that unusual anchor/fishing contraption, strange boat rack and unusually large antenna (with another one coming off a tree), I am unsure if I could tell the difference between fake and real on this one!
Canadian Wind Power
Prompt: a large wind power farm in Ontario, Canada, with dozens of wind turbines spread across the landscape.
Verdict: who's red logo is that?
Canadian Solar Power
Prompt: a large solar power farm in Canada spread across a large plot of land on a very sunny day.
Verdict: now that looks close to the real deal, but some are set into the ground… new tech idea?
Canadian Hydropower
Prompt: a large hydropower plant sitting on a river in Manitoba, surrounded by wetlands typical of the province of Manitoba.
Verdict: this is probably the most far-off depiction on this list; it looks more like a uranium mining shaft mixed in with a hydropower plant.
Canadian Farming
Prompt: a Canadian farm in Saskatchewan, with a farmer in his tractor tilling the expansive fields filled with crops.
Verdict: I can’t tell if this is real, or not – farmers, please help!
Canadian Mining
Prompt: a Canadian copper mining operation deep in the mountains of British Columbia.
Verdict: love the mountain peaks, but not so sure about the liquid-looking surfaces!
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Canada’s natural resource sectors are produced under some of the most stringent regulatory regimes in the world. They also support millions of workers and their families across the country.
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— Canada Action (@CanadaAction) July 16, 2023