Thanks for your observations, Aleena. Mine are quite opposite to yours. I typically try to create the lead image with AI to convey a key message of my post's content (I write about health from a health scientist's point of view). Though I don't just use the image alone, it is part of an overall design. Within the post I do not use any images other than my own illustrations that break down complex data to be more intuitively understandable to the lay reader. So, yes, in-text images are never AI-created in my post, nor are they coming from Unsplash. I'm not sure whether readers associate an AI image automatically with AI content. The question hadn't occurred to me until now, because, like you, I never use AI. I do use AI detectors to screen the responses to my articles. Occasionally, I find completely AI-generated responses, which I do not reward with claps, but still, as a matter of courtesy, respond to.

You rightly point out that a good lead image should draw your reader into the subject. But honestly, your post's title drew me in, the picture (and I hope you forgive me for saying this) didn't do anything to increase my interest.

I'd really be interested to learn whether your readers confirm your AI-image=AI-content assumption. You could actually post this as the closing question in your post.