Stanford University in California found itself at the center of a controversy after using artificial intelligence to alter a student photo for campus promotional materials.
The original image, taken in 2024 at one of the university's dining halls, showed three smiling students holding plates of food. But in the version that appeared on signage around campus, one of the students had been replaced via AI with a Black woman who was never present when the photo was taken.
The student removed from the image was Billy Ramirez, who studies human biology at Stanford. He learned of the swap when a friend sent him a side-by-side comparison of the original and edited versions. Ramirez was shocked to discover his likeness had been completely replaced.
The alterations went beyond swapping out Ramirez. The AI editing changed both the gender and race of that figure, modified the clothing, and digitally slimmed the faces of the two other students who remained in the frame.
After the incident came to light, the signs were removed. Ramirez initially found the situation amusing, he said, but later explained that having his identity changed and being erased from the photo made him feel as though he had been "deleted" from a representation that was supposed to include him.
Stanford confirmed that artificial intelligence was used to edit the photograph and acknowledged the practice violated official university policy. According to a university spokesperson, Stanford's guidelines explicitly prohibit using AI to create or alter images of university personnel, events, research, facilities, or achievements.
