# Proof Short AI Visual Upgrade Pattern

Use this when a Proof Short concept is approved as useful/clear, but the user asks why it does not use AI images to make the video look more premium.

## Core decision

Do not treat `ProofShortMode` as `no AI visuals forever`. Treat it as:

```text
validate real viewer problem first → then optionally add AI polish without surrendering factual/UI control
```

For security, finance, scam-awareness, invoice, email, payment-route, medical, or other high-trust topics, distinguish between:

- **factual/semantic assets**: UI, invoice, email, payment route, numbers, labels, warnings, claims, routing/account fields. These stay deterministic and renderer-owned.
- **atmospheric/premium assets**: desk, laptop, office, screen glow, neutral background, product-film texture, cover/thumbnail background, text-free keyframes. These may use AI image generation after the concept is validated.

## Recommended upgrade mode

```text
mode: ai_background_plus_deterministic_mockups
provider: openai-codex
model: highest available reasonable GPT Image tier, usually gpt-image-2-high
outputs: 2–3 text-free background/keyframes
renderer remains source of truth for all readable text/facts
```

Use this to make a Proof Short look less flat without turning it into an uncontrolled AI-image story.

## Safe AI image uses

Good uses:

- cinematic desk/laptop/office background
- neutral invoice-review atmosphere with blank papers/screens
- second-channel verification mood/background
- thumbnail/cover background
- premium lighting and product-film texture
- subtle abstract security atmosphere if it still supports the visible real problem

Bad uses:

- generating the invoice itself
- generating the email UI itself
- generating bank/payment details, account fields, IBANs, QR codes, barcodes, addresses, logos, fake company marks, legal text, or claims
- using AI image text as part of the message
- letting AI-generated visuals replace the visible fail/fix logic

## Prompt constraints

Every AI image prompt should say:

- text-free image
- no readable text
- no logos or brands
- no QR codes/barcodes
- no real companies, banks, people, addresses, account numbers, invoice numbers, or payment details
- leave clean safe space for renderer-owned captions and UI overlays
- realistic/premium social-video keyframe, 9:16
- show atmosphere/problem context, not factual content

## Review package additions

When using this upgrade, include:

- `visual_upgrade_mode: ai_background_plus_deterministic_mockups`
- AI image provider/model/quality
- number of generated keyframes
- number of used keyframes
- number of discarded keyframes and explicit discard reasons
- per-image SHA256/path/resolution
- statement that UI/invoice/payment route remained deterministic
- no Wan/I2V/full-final unless separately approved
- whether AI disclosure is required or only conservative optional disclosure

## Operational QA note

After generation, make a small contact sheet and inspect it before rendering. Do not use every image automatically. Discard AI backgrounds that contain pseudo-readable document lines, logo-like marks, QR/barcodes, people/hands, bank/payment details, or busy compositions that fight the deterministic foreground. For render treatment, keep AI backgrounds subordinate: slight blur/push-in/dark overlay is preferable to letting image detail compete with captions or the visible fail. See `references/proof-short-ai-background-rendering-qa.md` for the concrete pattern.

## Pitfall

Do not answer the user's “why no AI images?” as if AI images are forbidden. The correct answer is: AI images are useful for premium atmosphere after the proof concept is validated, but not for the factual invoice/email/payment-route layer. Offer a small controlled visual-upgrade pass instead of defending a flat deterministic preview.