She has an AI for fakes.
Dr. Karina Popovic, an expert in art authenticity, has revealed that she uses artificial intelligence to spot fraudulent paintings being sold on sites such as eBay.
Her process involved using AI technology to analyze photos advertised on retailers’ sites, often finding that they were “highly likely” to be “not authentic.” He told the Guardian in an article published on Wednesday.
The expert has so far exposed 40 fake works, including a fake titled “Wood with a Stream” by Claude Monet that was sold for $599,000; It also includes a work that is said to be a study by Claude Renoir of Dol.
“The algorithm identified them all as fake,” she told the outlet.
“When I looked into it today and downloaded the images, there were fakes everywhere,” Popovich added. “It turns out that everything we analyzed is not real art, and the probability is about 95%.
“I’m sure this is just the tip of the iceberg.”
Despite eBay’s “counterfeit policy” it says“We do not allow the listing of counterfeit or unauthorized copies,” and the experts were able to catch some.
The Florida seller who listed the Renoir, who goes by Metasys on eBay, told the Guardian he does not sell fake art. However, this item was removed after being contacted by the publisher.
Listings for seller Monet, based in Millersburg, Ohio, remain active.
“I fully guarantee that this painting is an original oil painting on canvas in 1867, signed and dated by Claude Monet. The painting is not in perfect condition and has been in my possession for over 20 years. “I don’t know the origin beyond that,” the eBay listing said.
Mr. Popovich, president of a Swiss art appraisal company art recognitionnotified eBay in December 2023 of its concerns about dishonest online sales and asked it to take it “with the seriousness it deserves.”
Despite multiple emails, the expert has yet to hear back from eBay, she told the Guardian. She says she is perplexed by the company’s silence and seeming indifference.
“I’ve tried so hard to talk to them. I’m so frustrated that they won’t answer. I’m really, really nervous about this. They’re responsible. Things like this are happening too much. They can’t turn a blind eye to what’s going on. There are clear signs that there’s a big problem there,” Popovich said.
An eBay spokesperson told the Post that “the sale of counterfeit goods is strictly prohibited,” and that the company is “committed to ensuring that items sold on our platform are authentic.” ” and explained as follows:
“We accomplish this by leveraging multiple layers of AI technology, expertly trained eBay investigators, and our Buyer Protection Program. We proactively block exposure and remove 2.7 million items from our platform after investigation by our research team. When counterfeit items are reported directly to eBay, we review them and take action as necessary. to delete the listing.
Regarding the product in question, the spokesperson concluded: “In this case, only one product was reported to us and it was immediately removed.”
Meanwhile, Popovich’s work with Art Recognition has made it possible to test the authenticity of more than 500 works of art around the world using only photos.
The AI system also identified several disputed works of art, including Vincent van Gogh’s 1889 self-portrait housed in the National Gallery in Oslo, Norway.
“It used to be very difficult to find these things because you couldn’t get a sample from an image on the internet. But with new technology, it’s easier. You just download the image. You’ll know within 10 minutes,” Popovich said.
“I think people should be warned.”
