Stanford University acknowledged Tuesday that artificial intelligence was used to alter a photograph of three students for promotional materials, replacing a male student with a Black woman and making another student appear thinner.
The university told Straight Arrow that the alterations violated its policies governing the use of AI-generated images.
A controversy over the images erupted Monday after The Stanford Review, an independent student publication, reported that Stanford Residential & Dining Enterprises had “race swapped” the photo using AI.
Download the Straight Arrow app today to get the stories that matter free from manipulation, bias or agenda.™
Point phone camera here
‘Silenced and erased’
Stanford student Billy Ramirez, a member of the class of 2027, told the publication that he remembered posing for the original photo, only to discover that he had been replaced by an AI-generated Black woman.
Ramirez, who is reportedly Hispanic, said he initially thought it was “hilarious” that they changed his race and gender. But upon reflection, he said, he felt “silenced and erased.”
In an email to Straight Arrow, Charlene Gage, Stanford’s director of university public relations, said school officials have reviewed the matter and “confirmed that AI was used to alter the image in violation of university policy.”
Stanford’s AI policy prohibits using AI to create or alter images of people, events, research, facilities or achievements at the university.
“Both the alteration and lack of disclosure in this case violate that policy,” Gage wrote.
She said the university is working with the Residential and Dining Enterprises to provide additional training and ensure the proper review of all materials.
Round out your reading
- Lawyer says 57 Cornell frat members were in the group chat. Could their silence be a crime?
- Florida county discovers mysterious Flock cameras with no obvious owner.
- Off Script: They won their primaries on one message. Now it’s disappearing.
- Some question whether a popular affordable housing policy is making the nation’s home shortage worse.
- Kelvin wave incoming: Why the US should care.
