Optical illusions are crazy. Even when we know what we’re looking at, our brains might misinterpret what we see. Many renowned optical illusions have been purposely manufactured, ranging from the Ames window, which looks to be moving back and forth while spinning 360 degrees, to the spiral image that makes Van Gogh’s “Starry Night” appear to be moving.

However, optical illusions are not always intentional. Those are much more enjoyable since we know they are not the consequence of someone attempting to deceive our brains. Our brains do the feat entirely by themselves.

The popular Massimo account on X uploaded a photo of what looks to be a human and two dogs in the snow. The more you look at it, the more you see two dogs and likely their owner. Turn the shot every which direction, and the conclusion remains the same. That’s one human and two dogs, correct?

This is how optical illusions mess with your mind.

First you see two dogs and their owner, and then… pic.twitter.com/67tm1UPGQa

— Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) January 8, 2024

However, the snapshot does not show two dogs. There are three dogs in this photo. Can you see the third?

Full confession: I didn’t see it at first. Not even after someone clarified that the “human” was a dog. My brain could only envision a figure with two legs clothed in black, with a furry helmet and some type of furry stole or jacket. My brain did not recognize a black poodle, which is what the “person” is.

Are you gazing at the photo and attempting to see it, completely frustrated? The poodle is gazing directly at the camera, which is a major giveaway. The “hat” on the “person” is the poodle’s poofy tail, while the “scarf/stole” is the poodle’s head.

It’s quite obvious once you see it, but many of us didn’t absorb it until it was officially stated. This outline helps a little:

As one individual stated, the black fur masks the curves and shadows, so our brains only see the outline, which resembles a person looking away from us.

The reactions to the optical illusion were amusing. One individual remarked, “10 years later: I still see two dogs and a man.”

Another user commented, “I agree with ChatGPT :),” and uploaded a screenshot of the controversial AI chatbot, characterizing the image as having a human in the foreground. Even when questioned, “Could the ‘person’ be another dog?” ChatGPT stated that it is feasible but not probable. Ha.

One reason we enjoy optical illusions is that they remind us how human we are. Unlike a computer, which takes in and sends out data, our brains detect and interpret what our senses provide—a trait that has aided us throughout our development. However, the way our brains put things together is not ideal. Even ChatGPT’s reaction is only a reflection of our human flaws in perception reflected to us. They say seeing is believing, but if we interpret what we see wrongly, we may believe things that are not true.

However, it is enjoyable to experiment with how our minds function. It serves as a valuable reminder that our perception of what we perceive, even through our own eyes, might not accurately reflect reality.