In an era in which technological progress is advancing at breathtaking speed, artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly accessible and present. Programs such as ChatGPT, Midjourney or DALL-E, which were initially viewed with scepticism, have now reached the masses. This development, which is continuing exponentially, harbours countless possibilities as well as significant problems, particularly with regard to verifiability. The ability to distinguish AI-generated images from reality is increasingly dwindling, which opens the door to misuse and disinformation. With the introduction of text-to-video functions (e.g. Sora), this problem threatens to take on new, unimaginable dimensions. This raises questions about the value and meaningfulness of visual material. However, any visual material we see leaves an impression, is stored in our memory and influences our behaviour and thinking. The core concern of my project is centred on this topic, on the question of the value and significance of visual material in an age in which it is almost impossible to distinguish between authentic and artificially generated images. It questions the role and influence of visual media when their authenticity is no longer guaranteed and how this affects our perception of reality and truth. At the same time, this challenge opens up the possibility that the real and the immediate will regain importance and come more into focus. This re-evaluation of the authentic could have a profound impact on society by fundamentally changing the way we perceive and appreciate information, art and ultimately the world around us. The examination of the distinction between genuine and artificially generated could therefore represent a turning point that encourages us to reconsider and appreciate the value of authenticity in an increasingly digitalised world. I would like to combine this conceptual idea with a new innovative idea: Smoke pictures. This involves using a projector to project onto smoke generated by fog machines to create fascinating visual effects. The blurred and hard-to-identify images are intended to deliberately mislead the viewer and at the same time evoke emotions that may contrast with the perceived visual material. The aim is to address the uncertainty about the authenticity of the images and to encourage reflection on the perception and appreciation of images in today’s world. The final form of this project is still open and will be shaped by further experiments.