Stanford Says AI-Edited Dining Image Violated Policy

Stanford University said an artificial-intelligence edit to a dining promotion image violated university policy after a student was removed from the photograph and replaced with a generated Black woman. The university said it would provide additional staff training and improve review of materials, but reports differed on whether banners displaying the image had already been removed or were still being taken down. The image showed three students holding plates of food. In the altered version, Billy Ramirez, a Hispanic student, was replaced, and the appearances of the two other students were also changed, according to comparisons of the original and edited photographs. Stanford confirmed that AI had been used to alter the image. A university spokesperson said the policy prohibits using AI to produce or alter images of Stanford people, events, research, facilities or achievements. The spokesperson said both the image alteration and the failure to disclose it violated the policy. Stanford said it was working with Residential Dining Enterprises to provide additional training and ensure materials receive proper review.